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  Comet C/2016 U1 NEOWISE (January 2017)

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Author Topic:   Comet C/2016 U1 NEOWISE (January 2017)
Solarplexus
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Posts: 107
From: Norway
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 01-04-2017 11:02 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Solarplexus     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A rare comet is zooming past Earth right now, and you should be able to see it with binoculars, Science Alert writes.
NASA has announced that a comet currently zooming through the inner Solar System will be so bright over the next week that we should be able to see it in the night sky with binoculars.

The comet was first detected by NASA's NEOWISE mission in October, and its trajectory is currently taking it on a safe pass by Earth as it approaches the Sun. But as it zooms by, it should be so bright between now and January 14 that we'll be able to see it using just binoculars, and maybe even with the naked eye.

The comet, called C/2016 U1 NEOWISE, "has a good chance of becoming visible through a good pair of binoculars, although we can't be sure because a comet's brightness is notoriously unpredictable," said Paul Chodas, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object (NEO) Studies.

Blackarrow
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Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 01-04-2017 05:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Having seen Bennett, Halley, Hyakutaki and Hale-Bopp, I'm really not impressed by a comet which has "a good chance of becoming visible through a good pair of binoculars..."

I want a comet I can see with the naked eye in daylight.

JBoe
Member

Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 01-04-2017 06:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you could, please provide updates as to location that would be great! I would love to take the telescope out with the kids and watch it! Thanks for posting!

Wehaveliftoff
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Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 01-04-2017 08:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Wehaveliftoff     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 14 will be the closest viewing, near magnitude 5. Though now it can be viewed with a clear sky, low on the USA horizon, and a Full Moon reigns Jan12th.

More detailed descriptions and viewing locations.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 01-05-2017 09:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Blackarrow:
I want a comet I can see with the naked eye in daylight.
Your request has been transmitted to the director of Solar System Special Effects for Earthlings (S3E2). We'll get back to you (hopefully in your lifetime).

That being said I agree with you. Hale-Bopp was so cool.

Blackarrow
Member

Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 01-05-2017 03:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One can at least hope...

And imagine if Hale-Bopp had passed as close to Earth as Hyakutaki!!!

All times are CT (US)

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