Comet ISON Could OUTSHINE Moon in 2013!

[A99]

Comet ISON Could Outshine Moon, Create Stunning Tail Visible In Night Sky In 2013, Astronomers Say

A comet blazing toward Earth could outshine the full moon when it passes by at the end of next year - if it survives its close encounter with the sun.

The recently discovered object, known as comet ISON, is due to fly within 1.2 million miles (1.9 million km) from the center of the sun on November 28, 2013 said astronomer Donald Yeomans, head of NASA's Near Earth Object Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

As the comet approaches, heat from the sun will vaporize ices in its body, creating what could be a spectacular tail that is visible in Earth's night sky without telescopes or even binoculars from about October 2013 through January 2014...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...comm_ref=false

[calikid]

International Scientific Optical Network discovered
Comet ISON

[CasperParks]

This is interesting....

Looking forward to it...

[epo333]

Comet-C2012-S1-ISON-cropped-300x215.jpg

Astronomers are excited about a sungrazing comet discovered late in 2012. For a short time, it might become as bright as a full moon. That’ll be around the time of its perihelion – or closest approach to the sun – on November 28, 2013. This comet is called C/2012 S1 (ISON) by astronomers. All of us around the globe should be able to see it. Look below for a month-by-month Comet ISON viewing schedule.

Comet ISON will come within 800,000 miles (1.2 million km) of our sun’s surface on November 28. That’s over 100 times closer to the sun than Earth. This close pass to the sun might cause Comet ISON to break to pieces. If it doesn’t break up, Comet ISON should become very bright. It might bright enough to see in daylight, near the sun, briefly. If it survives, it should go on to have a dazzling showing in December 2013.

The comet should become visible in August and September 2013 to observers at dark locations using small telescopes or possibly even binoculars.

October 2013. Comet ISON should become visible to the unaided eye, but only barely in the early part of the month. The comet will be sweeping in front of the constellation Leo then. It’ll pass first near Leo’s brightest star Regulus, then near the planet Mars. Maybe these brighter objects will help you find it that month. Meanwhile, the comet itself will be getting brighter during October.


Much more here:http://earthsky.org/space/big-sun-di...acular-in-2013

[epo333]

STEREO's anticipated observations of Comet ISON

Astronomers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Comet ISON, which will pass within just 2.7 solar radii from Sun center on November 28, 2013 (U.S. Thanksgiving). Although comets are unpredictable, Comet ISON has the potential to be a major comet. If so, STEREO should have a spectacular view. To assist with planning for this event, a new web page has been put together describing Comet ISON's orbit, and how the comet will be seen by STEREO's telescopes, and those on other solar observatories.

http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/comet_ison/

[Chris]

Won't that be truly amazing to have in effect what will look like a double moon?

[CasperParks]

STEREO's anticipated observations of Comet ISON

Astronomers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Comet ISON, which will pass within just 2.7 solar radii from Sun center on November 28, 2013 (U.S. Thanksgiving). Although comets are unpredictable, Comet ISON has the potential to be a major comet. If so, STEREO should have a spectacular view. To assist with planning for this event, a new web page has been put together describing Comet ISON's orbit, and how the comet will be seen by STEREO's telescopes, and those on other solar observatories.

http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/comet_ison/

That path is close to Mars and Earth.

[whoknows]

This one will not be as spectacular as “ISON” but will be able to be observed in the western sky just after sunset just to the south of the setting sun starting I think around March 05 through the 15th at least this info is to the best of my recollection.
Sorry if I am posting this in the wrong place!


Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS), discovered by Pan-STARRS 1 telescope on Haleakala, Maui, on the night of 2011, June 5-6, will reach perihelion in March 2013 when it will be located only 0.30 AU from the Sun and might become a bright naked eye object ( with a peak magnitude of anywhere from +1 to -1). At its brightest C/2011 L4 will appear only 15° from the Sun.

The comet is now at 3.2 AU from the Sun (m2 ~ 14.0). While visually C/2011 L4 is at m1 ~ 11.

We performed some follow-up measurements of comet C/2011 L4 remotely from the Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South on 2012, September 10.4 through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD. Below you can see our follow-up image (click on it for a bigger version):