I have prepared finder charts for tomorrow morning (Wednesday 21 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.
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 (Wednesday 21 December 2011) morning. Note that daylight was switched off so that the fainter stars are visible.
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.
if i stay in Malaysia, where should the LOVEJOY be??
Is ita coming to north América.
Kami,
Unfortunately this comet is not well placed for Northern hemisphere observers.
Regards,
Paul Floyd.
Hoo,
In replying to your email, I am assuming that you are in Kuala Lumpur. The comet will rise in the South East in the predawn sky.
Regards,
Paul Floyd.
Hi ! I’m in Belgium, “backyard astronomer”.I’ve send your information to a old and dear friend living in Sydney. Hope he can do it! Best regards and Merry Christmas from Belgium.
Philippe. (RixAstro)
Philppe,
Nice to hear from you.
From what I have seen of the weather forecast, the weekend is meant to be only partly cloudy for Sydney. That will be his best chance. If he lives near the center of Sydney, he will want to think about driving away from the city lights to get away from the light pollution.
Regards,
Paul Floyd.
OK, Paul,thank’s for reply. I hope my fried Leon will read it. I place your site in “my favorites”. I hope futures contacts between our’s opposites hemispheres ! Best Sky. Phil.
Not a problem.
Regards,
Paul Floyd.
Hmm, where and when should i look for Comet Lovejoy (naked eye) in Auckland, New Zealand? Thanks!
The answer will depend on which bit of the comet you want to look for. Chris Wyatt in New South Wales estimated that the comet’s tail was almost 15 degrees long this morning (almost 30 Moon widths). That means that the end of the tail will rise approximately one hour before the nucleus of the comet rises. According to Sky Safari Pro, the nucleus of the comet will rise (from Auckland) at 3.15 am, with astronomical twilight beginning at 3.05am (when the sky starts to lighten ever so slightly).
So in theory, you could look for the end of the comet’s tail from 2.15am on-wards. However, the tail will be very faint at the end and atmospheric absorption should make it invisible. That said, I have seen a comet’s tail extend all the way to the horizon but that comet was very close to the Earth at the time.
Can someone provide a star chart (in a link or email to me) to use for 48N, 122.3W? (Everett, WA, 98203) I’d like to give viewing a shot…if the clouds and fog disappear for me.
Many thanks.
i am staying here at Manila PH. where do i have to look to see the comet? is it in SE also?
How did you add comet lovejoy to sky safari? I have recently bought sky safari for iPad and am curious how you did this.
G’day Paul ,
Do you know what time sat morning South Australian CDT Comet Lovejoy should appear & how high above the horizon as i live in very near Adelaide CBD Western Suburbs .
I want to work out where i would need to go to get an unobstructed view .
MTIA
Larry,
Unfortunately the position of the comet in its orbit means that it can really be best seen South of the equator.
Regards,
Paul Floyd.
Just go into the settings -> Solar System -> Update Minor body orbit data button
Regards,
Paul Floyd.
Mawson,
Firstly, my apologies if I haven’t responded. With Christmas preparations, it has been somewhat hectic.
The answer is above the South East horizon before the morning twilight begins.
Regards,
Paul Floyd.