- Southern Hemisphere Sky Events

Where to look for Comet 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) Thursday morning

Reports and images are slowly coming in from observers in the few temporarily clear locations across Australia who have managed to glimpse the ‘Sun grazer’ Comet 2011 W3 (Lovejoy). Yesterday (Australian time), Vello Tabu failed to see the comet visually but photographed the comet’s five degree tail pointing up from the horizon. The comet was only 12 degrees from the Sun at the time. This morning (Australian time), Chris Wyatt is reporting that he observed a 15 degree tail for 50 minutes before cloud interfered.

Clearly, if you live in the Southern hemisphere and want to see what may be a ‘once in a lifetime comet’, it is worth getting up in the morning to look for the comet. Unfortunately, with morning twilight occurring so early, this means you need to get up at around 3 am AEST (4 am AEDT) if you live in Canberra – which is when astronomical twilight starts (for maximum sky darkness).

Chart showing location of Comet 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) at 4 am AEST (5 am daylight savings time) on Thursday 22 December 2011. Stars shown to magnitude 8. Chart produced for Canberra, Australia (but the chart will also be useful for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne). Image produced using Apple Ipad app Sky Safari Pro.

I used the highly recommended Sky Safari Pro Apple Ipad app to produce the above chart showing where the comet will be at 4 am AEST (5 am daylight savings time) tomorrow (Thursday 22 December 2011)  morning. Note that daylight was switched off so that the fainter stars are visible. I have prepared finder charts for tomorrow morning (Thursday 22 December 2011)  in the hope that the sky will be clear. My observing location (Canberra, Australia) continues to be clouded out thanks to a front sending moisture down from the tropics. Information on Comet 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) can be found here on Wikipedia.

Wide angle chart showing location of Comet 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) at 4 am AEST (5 am daylight savings time) on Thursday 22 December 2011. Chart produced for Canberra, Australia (but the chart will also be useful for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne). Image produced using Apple Ipad app Sky Safari Pro. Image (c) Southern Skies. Used with permission.

Above is the same region of sky but zoomed out for context. I have also set the controls to show daylight (or in this case morning twilight). The comet is still very close to the Sun. Over the next few days, Comet 2011 W3 will rapidly move away from the Sun and also is likely to rapidly fade. No one is really sure what the comet is doing because of the cloudy conditions in the Southern hemisphere. Hopefully clear weather will allow further observations. Note that the tail in the chart may not be accurate.

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4 thoughts on “Where to look for Comet 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) Thursday morning

  1. Will we have the opportunity to view the comet from the northern hemisphere? The mornings here in southwest Arizona have been cool and clear, and would love the chance to photograph this event.

    Thanks for any information you may provide.

    – Bill

  2. Bill,

    Unfortunately the position of the comet in its orbit means that it can really be best seen South of the equator.

    Regards,

    Paul Floyd.

  3. Hi Paul, I live in Stellenbosch South Africa. Can you tell me if I may be able tO see the comet and at what time?

    Thanks,
    Mary

  4. Mary,

    Given you are South of the equator, yes you will be able to see the comet. That said, you will need clear skies and you will get the best view if you are away from bright city lights.

    Your town is not in the database of the computer program I am using so unfortunately I cannot give you exact rise times for the comet. Given it’s size, some general instructions will suffice however. Essentially, look above the South East horizon before morning twilight begins. The comets tail (if still bright enough to see by the time you read this) will be like a faint distant searchlight pointing up from the horizon.

    Regards,

    Paul Floyd.

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