A previously undocumented comet, found by a photographer, confirmed by a well-equipped amateur astronomer? Neat, cool; the words aren't quite good enough. Add fun, amazing, and a few others. Thanks, Bob!
One other interesting point. This comet only appears low over the east a few minutes before dawn. It was missed by the major surveys (ATLAS, CATALINA, etc) because of where it is in the sky- they just don't look that low that close to dawn/sunset. Since it was discovered Aug 11, and we knew about it in the amateur astronomy community, we rapidly got some 400 confirming observations to nail down the orbit. Good news, it won't hit us. We checked. Better news, there are lots of folks, just like me, that are looking for the next one as well.
(joke) I would give 10.000 samolean smackaroos to who ever flatearfer who can make ther POLAR MOUNT to track the comet (just to be clear/for the dirt stupido ... on a flat earf ofcorse)
Very cool!!!!!
The split tail!! Good shooting there Michigander
I enjoyed this video! Thanks for showing the details.
A previously undocumented comet, found by a photographer, confirmed by a well-equipped amateur astronomer? Neat, cool; the words aren't quite good enough. Add fun, amazing, and a few others.
Thanks, Bob!
That’s how it works sometimes. The comet came out of the sun, the big sky surveys don’t look there
One other interesting point. This comet only appears low over the east a few minutes before dawn. It was missed by the major surveys (ATLAS, CATALINA, etc) because of where it is in the sky- they just don't look that low that close to dawn/sunset. Since it was discovered Aug 11, and we knew about it in the amateur astronomy community, we rapidly got some 400 confirming observations to nail down the orbit. Good news, it won't hit us. We checked. Better news, there are lots of folks, just like me, that are looking for the next one as well.
🙌
(joke) I would give 10.000 samolean smackaroos to who ever
flatearfer who can make ther POLAR MOUNT to track the
comet (just to be clear/for the dirt stupido ... on a flat earf ofcorse)