Comet Swan
Oct. 26th, 2006 03:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mollyringleFor those of you with actual clear skies, an astronomy PSA (hehe...had to use an acronym; couldn't resist)...
From http://www.spaceweather.com/ , where you can get a sky map and pretty comet photos--
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Only a few days ago you needed a telescope to see Comet Swan. Not anymore. The comet has suddenly brightened to naked eye visibility. The cause of the outburst: Probably, a crack has opened in the comet's nucleus, exposing a fresh vein of volatile ice to vaporizing sunlight.
To see the comet, go outside after sunset and look west. It is about halfway up the sky gliding through the constellation Corona Borealis. To the unaided eye it looks like a faint, fuzzy star. For full effect, look through binoculars or a small telescope. Swan's huge green atmosphere and long sinuous tail are beautiful.
***
From http://www.spaceweather.com/ , where you can get a sky map and pretty comet photos--
***
Only a few days ago you needed a telescope to see Comet Swan. Not anymore. The comet has suddenly brightened to naked eye visibility. The cause of the outburst: Probably, a crack has opened in the comet's nucleus, exposing a fresh vein of volatile ice to vaporizing sunlight.
To see the comet, go outside after sunset and look west. It is about halfway up the sky gliding through the constellation Corona Borealis. To the unaided eye it looks like a faint, fuzzy star. For full effect, look through binoculars or a small telescope. Swan's huge green atmosphere and long sinuous tail are beautiful.
***
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no subject
Date: 2006-10-27 12:54 am (UTC)Smoke Filled Sky...
Date: 2006-10-27 04:54 am (UTC)Maybe tomorrow night....Thanks for the update...
+
Re: Smoke Filled Sky...
Date: 2006-10-30 06:47 pm (UTC)Think the comet is fading again, but I might try to look now that our skies have cleared...