The Next Naked Eye Comet: What to Expect & When

[Stratosphere]

When will the next comet apear for Earth viewers. I know that there is almost always a comet or two visable through a large telescope but when is the next one visable with the naked eye(I want to plan somthing import on that night.) . I wish i was around for comet Hale-Bopp but i was to young.

 

[alseth]

Well, Hale-Bopp was one of the brightest comets seen for many decades. Astronomers do not expect any comparable comet to show up anytime soon. Hale-Bopp was discovered almost two years before it passed perihelion so when you think about it, the chances are quite slim(almost none). At least for the near future... :(

 

[Nabeshin]

McNaught was also ridiculously bright, so owing to the laws of probability, we've had our fair share of bright comets already.

 

[Stratosphere]

That sucks. Is there anything that might be visable but dim?

 

[turbo]

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/35992534.html

Here you go.

 

[vincentm]

What chemical composition does it consist of that gives it the green color?

 

[alseth]

What chemical composition does it consist of that gives it the green color?

its mainly cyanogen and some diatomic carbon gases

 

[turbo]

Here's a wonderful photo of it by Greg Parker and Noel Carboni. Their fantastic astronomy picture-book "Star Vistas" is now shipping. Greg does the imaging in England, emails the images to Noel in Florida, who does the image processing. Notice the quartet of galaxies visible through the comet. NGC 3020, NGC 3024, NGC 3019, NGC 3016 in Leo.http://forum.ourdarkskies.com/gallery_images/1233864399/gallery_131_7_140417.jpg

 

[Stratosphere]

I don't know if I would be able to find comet Lulin, my binoculars are too strong.(20x80)

 

[alseth]

I don't know if I would be able to find comet Lulin, my binoculars are too strong.(20x80)

You can definitely do it. I have found it through my Newton without using a finderscope. I think your binocs are well suited for this kind of observation. You may want to use a tripod for this though...

 

[Nabeshin]

You can definitely do it. I have found it through my Newton without using a finderscope. I think your binocs are well suited for this kind of observation. You may want to use a tripod for this though...

Definitely on the tripod. I picked it up a few days ago with my 15x70s and it was tough to see any kind of detail without the tripod.

 

[blimkie.k]

hale bopp, i remember viewing a comet in grade 3 it must have been hale, that was about 12 years ago, 1996-97 i think.

Wouldnt mind taking a girl up to a hill to watch a comet, the night sky out of city limits is fascinating enough but with a comet streakin through it ohh baby haha.

 

[Stratosphere]

Wouldnt mind taking a girl up to a hill to watch a comet, the night sky out of city limits is fascinating enough but with a comet streakin through it ohh baby haha.

My idea exactly, i was only 3 or 4 when Hale-Bopp was around. I've always had an interest in science but it faed away around 9 and came back abought 5 months ago twice as strong.