Comet Lulin Debuts in the Inner Solar System

[Terran]

Comet Lulin, just discovered in 2007 and making what might be its maiden swing through Earth's neighborhood, should be visible in the sky throughout much of next month, drawing closest to our planet on February 24.

The comet's parabolic orbit seems to indicate an origin beyond the inner solar system—meaning it may be passing through for the first time.

The comet "should be a fairly easy object [to see with] modest amateur telescopes or even binoculars," Donald Yeomans, a comet and asteroid expert at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., told National Geographic.

Read more... (http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=get-your-binoculars-new-comet-pays-2009-01-30)

[whitecrow]

Read more... (http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=get-your-binoculars-new-comet-pays-2009-01-30)

I always find a comet exciting. I'll be watching for it. Recently I got my hands on a really nice telescope, so I should be able to get a decent view. Even with the light pollution here I have been looking at spectacular views of Venus and the moon these last few evenings.

[Norval]

We have seen more comets in our lifetimes than ever before in history.

[zorgon]

That's because we have astronomers spotting them for us and giving us advance notice. And as they say binoculars or a modest telescope... not the naked eye

[Norval]

We have seen more comets in our lifetimes than ever before in history.

, , , that's with the naked eye, , , :)

[Gary]

Comet Lulin Tails
Credit & Copyright: Joseph Brimacombe
Explanation: Sweeping through the inner solar system, Comet Lulin is easily visible in both northern and southern hemispheres with binoculars or a small telescope. Recent changes in Lulin's lovely greenish coma and tails are featured in this two panel comparison of images taken on January 31st (top) and February 4th. Taken from dark New Mexico Skies, the images span over 2 degrees. In both views the comet sports an apparent antitail at the left -- the comet's dust tail appearing almost edge on from an earth-based perspective as it trails behind in Lulin's orbit. Extending to the right of the coma, away from the Sun, is the beautiful ion tail. Remarkably, as captured in the bottom panel, Comet Lulin's ion tail became disconnected on February 4, likely buffeted and torn away by magnetic fields in the solar wind. In 2007 NASA satellites recorded a similar disconnection event for Comet Encke. Don't worry, though. Comet tails can grow back.

[Gary]

Who pinched my picture??????????

[Gale]

What picture, where??????

[Gary]

What picture, where??????

Well it;s back where it was, this afternoon it was missing???

[Swami Salami]

Toxic Comet Lulin - See It On 24 Feb 2009


The bright green Comet Lulin is expected to put on an excellent show in our night skies this month. It is easily visible in binoculars, and sharp-eyed observers may even be able to spot it with unaided eyes, if conditions are favourable. Estimates suggest it will be brightest around 24 February, when it will also appear to pass close to the planet Saturn.


http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/17611/Toxic_Comet_Lulin___See_It_On_24_Feb_2009/