Comet atlas - on its way

[Channel Hopper]

About time to start a thread on this one, possibly the best thing to happen this year.

A comet for december

46P or Wirtanen, available with binoculars near the beginning of next month. Comet 46P/Wirtanen makes a close approach | British Astronomical Association https://www.britastro.org/sites/default/files/46pdec.pdf

www.satellites.co.uk

Now just a smudge in the sky, but brightening rapidly.

Where to look

 

[Channel Hopper]

and the potential magnitude.

 

[Analoguesat]

A negative magnitude comet would be fabulous. Lets hope it doesnt fizzle out like Kohoutek did.....

 

[Channel Hopper]

Tail forming

Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)

Last night. 60 x 60s exposures. Dave

stargazerslounge.com

 

[Channel Hopper]

Rats, another cloudy night near here

Comet Atlas (C/2019 Y4)

Hi .... On Saturday evening I managed to blow the cobwebs off my set-up after several months of in activity due to poor weather ... and get some shots of Comet Atlas. It is well over a year since I have tried to image a comet so I have a lot to re-remember how to go about it! I took 15 x 100 sec ...

stargazerslounge.com

 

[ManFromWales]

But....COMET ATLAS MIGHT BE FRAGMENTING
Hope not.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Now in three or more pieces

Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas: multiple fragments recorded - 11 Apr. 2020 - The Virtual Telescope Project 2.0

Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas has clearly broken up: this image (11 Apr. 2020) shows at least three sub-nuclei. Image: Gianluca Masi, Virtual Telescope Project.

www.virtualtelescope.eu

 

[Channel Hopper]

Swan might be a potential substitute

Comet Y4 ATLAS Breaks Up...Enter Comet F8 SWAN - Universe Today

 

[Channel Hopper]

Some data for those with the right kit upstairs.

C/2020 F8 (SWAN) | astro.vanbuitenen.nl

Nothing showing around here for another fortnight so time to get things ready

 

[Channel Hopper]

The end of comet Atlas, courtesy of Hubble

That's the way the comet crumbles: Hubble image shows remains of Comet ATLAS

Astronomers are tracking Comet ATLAS in real time as it falls to pieces, thanks to instruments like NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

www.space.com