Comet Lovejoy survives perihelion!

A newly discovered comet is racing toward a mid-December rendezvous with the sun

[...]The comet is categorized by astronomers as a "sungrazer" and it is destined to do just that; literally graze the surface of the sun

[...]While the comet will not collide with the sun, most astronomers say the odds are rather long that it will remain intact after its closest pass by the sun. The most exciting aspect of the event is that the comet's expected destruction should be visible on your computer monitor.

And there is a very slight chance that, should the comet somehow manage to survive, it might briefly become visible in broad daylight

[...]Its official title is C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy). It is Terry Lovejoy's third comet discovery.

[...]Since Comet Lovejoy is the first sungrazer in over-40 years to be discovered en route to the sun with an Earth-based telescope, one might wonder if it will evolve into a memorable spectacle.

[...]Astronomer Gareth V. Williams computed a preliminary orbit for the comet, which indicates that perihelion (closest approach to the sun) will occur at 7 p.m. EST Dec. 15 (00:00 GMT on Dec. 16) at a distance of 548,000 miles (882,000 km) from the center of the sun, meaning that the comet will skim a mere 115,000 miles (186,000 km) above the solar surface, putting it into the special classification of a "Kreutz Sungrazer."

more @ [link to www.space.com]

According to calculations derived from a Minor Planet (MPC) Circular, Comet Lovejoy should enter the LASCO C3 field of view early on December 14 (look for it here), entering from the south.

Also, see below the graph with the expected trajectory as the comet will be close to the Sun.

[link to sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov]

This page was created on December 2nd, 2011, the 16th "birthday" of the SOHO satellite, and the day of the announcement of the discovery of a potentially very bright Kreutz-group comet, C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy). This page will chronicle the latest news relating to this discovery of, build-up to, and (hopefully) appearance of this object in the SOHO and STEREO fields of view. Updates won't be daily but they will happen as news filters in...

[link to sungrazer.nrl.navy.mil]

Last Edited by RTS REDUX on 09/25/2012 07:43 PM