Comet ISON - don't wait until Nov.

[PTS]

Hi,
Many of you are looking forward to see Comet ISON later this year. While seeing a BIG comet is very satisfying, there is always some danger of missing the chance to see the Comet while it is at its best.

The fact is: we should start observing NOW, or at least get prepared to observe as soon as possible.

According to latest data, Comet ISON is now at about Mag. 16, well within the capability of many of our equipment.
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COMET C/2012 S1 (ISON)
Total-magnitude and coma-diameter estimates (visual unless otherwise noted):
2013
May 31.85, 15.5, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
27.79, 16.0, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
25.80, 15.8, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
20.82, 16.0, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
17.80, 15.5, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
14.76, 16.1, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
8.78, 16.2, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
6.49, 15.5, 0'.4 (K. Yoshimoto, Yamaguchi, Japan, 0.16-m reflector + CCD);
3.78, 16.3, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
Apr. 27.78, 15.8, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
19.81, 16.2, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
18.81, 16.2, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
15.78, 15.1, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
14.78, 16.3, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
12.78, 15.9, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
10.78, 16.3, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
9.78, 16.2, 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);
9.48, 15.8, 0'.5 (K. Yoshimoto, Yamaguchi, Japan, 0.16-m reflector + CCD);
6.82, 16.2 0'.15 (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 25-cm reflector + CCD + R_c filter);

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It will certainly be more satisfying if we follow the Comet when it is still faint, all the way to its full-blown beauty, rather than just get a few glimpses.


pts

[david_kmng]

Seems it is not going to be brighter than the moon, but still better than Venus at its best. I just wonder, if it is of similar absolute magnitude as Ikey-Seki, I do hope it will outperform Ikey-Seki.

Since it is at conjunction, still need to wait until August.

[PTS]

Seems it is not going to be brighter than the moon, but still better than Venus at its best. I just wonder, if it is of similar absolute magnitude as Ikey-Seki, I do hope it will outperform Ikey-Seki.

Since it is at conjunction, still need to wait until August.

Thus it is good time to get prepared.

pts