Comet NeoWise

oriel36 · 19-07-2020 7:13am

The dual effects of experimental theorists ('climate change' for example) and celestial sphere enthusiasts (descriptions of the comet without solar system context) are a product of Royal Society empiricism which unfortunately dominates this era.

The 17th century experimental method is like a virus which hijacked the machinery of astronomy and re-directed astronomical predictions towards experimental predictions as universal theories. It used the late 17th century equatorial coordinate system (RA/Dec) to make astronomical observations subservient to timekeeping or what became the 'clockwork solar system' of Newton thereby turning interpretation of the motions of the planet and the structure of the solar system on its head.

Whereas the geocentric astronomers and the original heliocentric astronomers could predict astronomical events as dates within the calendar system, the RA/Dec system allowed observers to predict events using the 24 hour clock within those dates. The trade-off was that more accurate predictions meant a loss of cause and effect that is more drastic than geocentricity, after all, those venerable astronomers distinguished between the direct motion of the Sun through the background field of stars while the planets wandered while RA/Dec also puts the Sun in a wandering motion -

https://community.dur.ac.uk/john.lucey/users/sun_ecliptic.gif

https://community.dur.ac.uk/john.lucey/users/solar_year.gif

Our era is trapped within a conundrum created by two groups with a definite beginning in late 17th century England. Because academic society is dominated by these empirical descriptions, the stranglehold looks unbreakable, however, a glimpse of something new and exciting permits the perceptive or intuitive side of humanity to escape the intellectual gridlock created by people who organised things to suit themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AEluR-CBu4&t=39s

The comet just reminds people of what astronomy and Earth sciences used to be with the connection between the motions of the planet and Earth sciences still in its infancy.

SouthWesterly · 19-07-2020 8:33am

Was much fainter than last week despite this being the optimal few days.
Woke my, son up after him moaning last week that I hadn't.
He was unimpressed and couldn't see it. Went back to bed

Calibos · 19-07-2020 9:19am

Dublin SkyGlow and clouds ruining things for me in Bray.

Thankfully I’ll always have 97’s Hale-Bopp being in my mid 40’s as I am. Where did 23 years go!!

quad_red · 19-07-2020 10:06am

I was happy enough that I’d see it before closest approach on the 23rd but ye are all saying it’s getting dimmer.

Why would that be? Is it because it’s moving away from the sun?

Oneiric 3 · 19-07-2020 12:02pm

pauldry wrote: »

Completely clear in Sligo now but cant see it. Off to bed.

Perfect sky here last night for viewing and no sign of it either despite looking in all the right directions, even with binocs.

Gaoth Laidir · 19-07-2020 12:03pm

I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who couldn't see it. Went outside at 1 am and had a perfect sky to see it. Not a sign of it.

riffmongous · 19-07-2020 12:25pm

M.T. Cranium wrote: »

It can be seen all night as it's well above the northern horizon, moving from NNW to NNE between 10:30 pm and 3:30 a.m. (roughly the interval of dark skies). There is no best time to see it, depends on your local horizon and viewing parameters. However, it may be about to fade rapidly. I'm eight hours behind your time zone and waiting for darkness to have a look (sun just set here at 9 p.m. local time). Will report back how it compares to last two views I had.

(later edit) _ Just back in from viewing, would say it has dropped in brightness by about one magnitude past two days, it's about equal to the two guide stars it just passed. At best it is borderline of 2nd and 3rd mags. Still a good sight in binoculars. If you don't have very dark rural skies plus binocs, I would say not worth your time or effort now, but try for it if you have those two things.

I'll probably give it a miss then, definitely don't have dark rural skies here anyway so I'd say even the binocs won't help at those magnitudes

riffmongous · 19-07-2020 12:26pm

Calibos wrote: »

Dublin SkyGlow and clouds ruining things for me in Bray.

Thankfully I’ll always have 97’s Hale-Bopp being in my mid 40’s as I am. Where did 23 years go!!

That was really something wasn't it, I can still remember it well too

4068ac1elhodqr · 19-07-2020 3:28pm

Calibos wrote: »

Dublin SkyGlow and clouds ruining things for me in Bray.

Thankfully I’ll always have 97’s Hale-Bopp being in my mid 40’s as I am. Where did 23 years go!!

Set the dairy for Fri 13th April 2029 (T- 3,206 earth days) for the wormwood-esq 'Lordy of Chaos' to arrive, it'll look like a moving gradually brightening star as it approaches.

Back in 2004 during its time of infamy as an asteroid that might strike Earth, Apophis set the record for the highest rating on the NEO Torino scale, reaching level 4 threat by the end of that year.

g0g · 19-07-2020 10:46pm

Too early or anyone spotted it this evening yet? Contemplating a spin (north Wicklow) but won't bother my arse if it's tough to spot without binoculars by now?

lolie · 19-07-2020 11:15pm

riffmongous wrote: »

What time are you guys seeing it at?

I only got a chance to look for it at 1.45 am and it was faint but easily noticeable with the najed eye but i was in a rural area with no light polution.
I took the pic i posted at 3am and could barely notice it with the naked eye, definitely had dimmed a good bit since last Saturday night.
Best time would be between 12 and 2am.
If theres any lighr pollution where you are I'd forget about it as it will likely be a bit dimmer again tonight.
Use the Plough/Saucepan as a guide.

Akrasia · 19-07-2020 11:24pm

g0g wrote: »

Too early or anyone spotted it this evening yet? Contemplating a spin (north Wicklow) but won't bother my arse if it's tough to spot without binoculars by now?

I was in Fanore last night, perfect view of the northwest sky in a dark sky region, still couldn’t see it till about Half 12 due to the twilight glow

Was lovely to see with the naked eye but definitely bring binoculars to see it in more detail

lolie · 19-07-2020 11:29pm

g0g wrote: »

Too early or anyone spotted it this evening yet? Contemplating a spin (north Wicklow) but won't bother my arse if it's tough to spot without binoculars by now?

I just went out a few mins ago and spotted it, only for i knew exactly where to look.
If you get a spot with no light pollution go for it.
That or look out again in 6,800 years.

pad199207 · 19-07-2020 11:55pm

Visible to the naked eye here now

Purple Mountain · 20-07-2020 12:03am

lolie wrote: »

I just went out a few mins ago and spotted it, only for i knew exactly where to look.
If you get a spot with no light pollution go for it.
That or look out again in 6,800 years.

Is it still near the plough?

Oneiric 3 · 20-07-2020 12:12am

First time spotting it just now. Faint but visible to the NW about halfway up the sky.

mcbert · 20-07-2020 12:16am

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Is it still near the plough?

Right now should be a little below, to the right of the plough (I *think*)

Its just after midnight now, in Galway city, I've got the apps and I know my phone is calibrated, and I'm confident I can see exactly where it should be in relation to the plough, so I know Im looking in the right direction, but I cant see anything.

Its not *that* dark, being in the city, and I'm looking with the naked eye only, but I thought I'd see something - the sky looks alot darker than some other random photos Ive see online posted by people with just their phones I think...

Calculator123 · 20-07-2020 12:17am

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Is it still near the plough?

It is. Below the rightmost stars. Here is a picture I just took tonight. West Dublin. Lots of light pollution. But it's visible with binoculars. Only clear night I've had.

artanevilla · 20-07-2020 12:20am

It's to the right of the plough, it's fairly visible to the naked eye. Set your smartphone camera to its highest exposure setting and wow you can really see it.

I had decamped to the country this weekend in the hope of seeing it, decided to stay down the extra night and have been rewarded.

pad199207 · 20-07-2020 12:22am

Almost got a decent meteor/shooting star going across before this shot

Purple Mountain · 20-07-2020 12:25am

Anyone else just see the shooting star there 5 minutes ago under the Plough?
I can see a hue which I reckon is the comet. Like a blur.

nthclare · 20-07-2020 12:29am

Akrasia wrote: »

I was in Fanore last night, perfect view of the northwest sky in a dark sky region, still couldn’t see it till about Half 12 due to the twilight glow

Was lovely to see with the naked eye but definitely bring binoculars to see it in more detail

When in Fanore, what geographical direction did you look ?

Would towards north of Galway city be the location ?

mcbert · 20-07-2020 12:30am

Well, still cant see anything with naked in in Galway city, but I set my phone to night mode, max exposure - 10sec - and just pointed in the right direction, and sure enough, there it is on my phone! Quite faint, but woo! Im surprised my eyes cant pick it up - my eyesight is fine...

Gaoth Laidir · 20-07-2020 12:35am

I finally saw it as I was looking in the right place tonight. Look NNW (about 340 °) and you can't miss it.

I also saw the shooting star and a satellite too for good measure.

Meteorite58 · 20-07-2020 12:36am

After my rather embarrassing attempt last night

I spent a bit of time this evening learning up a bit.... better shot tonight and framed The Plough in as well. Very faint to the naked eye.

GQ7WiWv.jpg?1

lolie · 20-07-2020 12:37am

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Is it still near the plough?

Yeah, here's a pic taken a few mins ago on the phone.
A bit out of focus though.

Jupiter and Saturn are the bright objects on the opposite side of, the sky and Mars is rising now in the East.
Also the ISS is due out at 12.51 to 12.56 and again at 2.28 to 2.29,both West to east.

Gaoth Laidir · 20-07-2020 12:41am

It's amazing that we can see something so small from 105 million km away.

robclay26 · 20-07-2020 12:47am

lolie wrote: »

Yeah, here's a pic taken a few mins ago on the phone.
A bit out of focus though.

Jupiter and Saturn are the bright objects on the opposite side of, the sky and Mars is rising now in the East.
Also the ISS is due out at 12.51 to 12.56 and again at 2.28 to 2.29,both West to east.

Super pic! What’s the streak going right to left at 30 degree angle??i can see it outside too

Akrasia · 20-07-2020 12:52am

nthclare wrote: »

When in Fanore, what geographical direction did you look ?

Would towards north of Galway city be the location ?

I’d Say slightly west of the city, ( from the POV of the Dunes on the Beach). i was looking too far north early on, its also quite high in the sky about now, maybe a third of the way between the horizon and 90 degrees

It’s a whispy tail to the naked eye but once you see it, you can’t miss it

artanevilla · 20-07-2020 1:05am

Pointed phone at the sky with max exposure settings and hoped for the best....

Comet NeoWise

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