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Author Topic: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE  (Read 6213 times)

Offline Conrad

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Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« on: March 14, 2013, 01:27:09 PM »
http://spaceweather.com/

Comet Pan-STARRS might have brightened even more than expected when it swung past the sun on March 10th. Updated light curves show the comet peaked at 0th magnitude, about 2.5 times brighter than a 1st-magnitude star. Unfortunately, bright twilight surrounds the comet, making it difficult to find. Last night, Chris Cook pointed it out to his son from a sand dune in Cape Cod, Massachusetts,:


Photo details: 2 sec exposure, Canon 5D w/70-200mm f/2.8L lens, ISO1250

Even staring straight at it, however, father and son had trouble seeing the comet. Cook used a 2-second exposure with his digital camera to improve the view.

The situation will improve in the nights ahead as Comet Pan-STARRS moves away from the sun into darker skies. Soon, it might be possible to walk outside after nightfall, look west, and see the brightening comet with the unaided eye. If you would like to try tonight, look for Comet Pan-STARRS directly underneath the waxing crescent Moon:

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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2013, 02:05:38 PM »
Thank goodness our resident astronomer is back in business.   :thumbs:
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2013, 02:53:27 PM »
 ;D

Don't want y'all missing out on those hevenly bodies.   ;)

Venus and Mars - Rock Show - Jet - Paul McCartney And Wings 1976 Remastered

Oh the humanity, Paul has a mullet.    :o
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Offline GeeBeav

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2013, 03:59:39 AM »
Quote from: Conrad on March 14, 2013, 02:53:27 PM
Oh the humanity, Paul has a mullet.    :o

They're still in style, right?
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2013, 07:28:40 AM »
Quote from: GeeBeav on March 15, 2013, 03:59:39 AM
They're still in style, right?

I guess that just depends on what sort of mullet you're sporting, sport.



This guy below should have been taken out back and beat up.
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2013, 07:39:29 AM »
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Offline Cold Streak

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2013, 07:53:49 AM »
Quote
They're still in style, right?

Only if you have a TransAm or a Camaro on blocks in the front yard.

I've been hoping to see the comet but we've had nothing but clouds around here for past week or so. 
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Offline Strawboss

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2013, 10:19:02 AM »
So what your saying is that pretty much 80% of all housholds south of the Mason-Dixon line potentially have mullets due to the overwhelming numbers of Camaros on blocks or being driven there? ;D
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Offline PlaynInPeoria

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2013, 05:05:15 PM »
Ok I missed this, is it still visible?  Getting ready to get dark here, view to the west is a challenge but I will give 'er a shot.
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2013, 04:30:30 AM »
Quote from: PlaynInPeoria on March 17, 2013, 05:05:15 PM
Ok I missed this, is it still visible?  Getting ready to get dark here, view to the west is a challenge but I will give 'er a shot.

Yep, it's still visible.

This was taken last night.

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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2013, 08:44:12 AM »
From your backyard?
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2013, 08:51:33 AM »
Quote from: VirginiaJim on March 18, 2013, 08:44:12 AM
From your backyard?

Yeah, I gave up Direct TV and I'm going a different route.
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Offline Rhino

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2013, 08:56:48 AM »
We have had clouds in the west every evening and have not been able to spot it. But I did get this pic of the moon and Jupiter close together.

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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Comet Pan-Starrs UPDATE
« Reply #13 on: March 18, 2013, 10:02:06 AM »
Quote from: Conrad on March 18, 2013, 08:51:33 AM
Yeah, I gave up Direct TV and I'm going a different route.

Yep, you can't have too many antennas...

http://www.infinitydish.com/tvblog/uncategorized/10-most-bizarrely-placed-tv-satellite-dishes#back
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