neuer Komet
Geschrieben von franz_liszt am 13. April 2004 20:39:37:
Als Antwort auf: Vulkane / Sonne / Naturphänomene (Di. 13.04.2004) (owT) geschrieben von franz_liszt am 13. April 2004 20:33:09:
Hallo Sterngucker,
ein Komet wurde grad entdeckt, der am 17.4. der Sonne am nächsten ist und dabei ganz schön hell wird. Er wird auch ins Blickfeld von SOHO kommen.
Gruß franz_liszt
BRIGHT COMET: Newly-discovered Comet Bradfield (C/2004 F4) is plunging toward the sun and rapidly brightening. At perihelion on April 17th, it will be inside the orbit of Mercury and perhaps as bright as a 2nd-magnitude star. [ephemeris]
For the next day or so southern hemisphere observers can spot the comet hanging low in the western evening sky--a fuzzy blob barely shining through the glow of sunset. Binoculars are recommended. After that the comet will be overwhelmed by the sun's glare.
Above: Terry Lovejoy of Australia snapped this picture of the comet (lower right) at sunset on April 12th. [More]
The orbiting Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) will have a better view than we do on Earth. The spacecraft's coronagraphs, which block out the sun's glare, can track and photograph the comet during the days around closest approach (April 16th - 20th). How bright will Comet Bradfield become? How big will its tail grow? Will the comet break apart? Stay tuned for updates.