A Possible Naked-eye Comet in March, A Better One in December.

hmm that is very close eh just hope it doesn't get sucked in and expecting rain the next few days so might not get a chance to see it

Had a slim chance to see it this morning, the cloud deck from a rain event just cleared our location, but the Sun was rising.

I could see Mercury at -0.2 and Spica at -3.58 magnitude, but my 10x50's couldn't pick ISON (4.9) out.

Comet ISON: What's Next?

Nov. 14, 2013: Comet ISON is now inside the orbit of Earth as it plunges headlong toward the sun for a fiery close encounter on Nov. 28th. Although the comet is not yet as bright as many forecasters predicted, the comet is putting on a good show for observatories around the solar system. NASA spacecraft and amateur astronomers alike are snapping crisp pictures of the comet's gossamer green atmosphere and filamentary double-tail.

Source: Comet ISON: What's Next? - NASA Science

From the "When it rains it pours" Department:

Two Comets to Fly By Mercury

Nov. 15, 2013: What are the odds? On Nov. 18th and 19th not one but two comets will fly by the planet Mercury.

"This is a unique coincidence," says Ron Vervack an astronomer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab and a member of the science team for NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, "and a golden opportunity to study two comets passing close to the sun.”

On Nov. 18th Comet Encke will pass within 0.025 AU of Mercury, followed a day later by Comet ISON at 0.24 AU (1 AU is the distance between the sun and Earth, 150 million km). The MESSENGER spacecraft, which is orbiting Mercury, will turn its sensors toward the passing comets for a point-blank investigation of both.



Source: Two Comets to Fly By Mercury - NASA Science

Science Channel will be hosting a special event showing of "Super Comet ISON 2013"

Sunday December 7th at 10pm est


This is only a 00:30second clip to advertise the show,
Be warned,
It starts automatically so you may want to adjust your machine sound levels.

SuperComet Ison 2013: Supercomet Ison on Science : Video : Science Channel

The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) will be airing "Comet Encounter" This Wednesday evening (11-20-2013) at 10pm est.

About the Program
Comets have fascinated, even terrified us for thousands of years. For scientists though, comets are a great opportunity. This year, 2013, a particularly massive chunk of ice and rock is coming our way, an object that will fascinate billions and should create the space show of the century.

Right now Comet ISON, somewhere between one and 10 kilometers in diameter, is just beyond the orbit of Jupiter. As it races past us toward the sun it should develop a tail that will light up the skies brighter than a full moon. Then the comet will slingshot around the back of the sun and could emerge brighter than ever, treating the entire northern hemisphere to an unforgettable sight.

In this program, scientists all over the world follow a once-in-a-lifetime event and shoot breathtaking images, spewing its essence into the void. But there is jeopardy too; the comet could evaporate completely or the sun's massive gravity could tear it apart. If the latter happens it will produce a so-called "string of pearls," several much smaller comets arching right across the night sky.

Source: Comet Encounter | PBS

I hope the program isn't as dated as the promo byline and becomes more accurate as we approach the close encounter with the Sun on Thanksgiving day the 28th. ISON is now within the orbit of Venus and approaching Mercury.

Interactive Source: Comet ISON Model

This is nitpicking, but with the real time astronomy programs I'm using, ISON will only be viewable in the early morning sky here in the Northern Hemisphere; to the southeast before November 28th and towards the Northeast/North after the 28th.
I can understand the generalization, but using "the night sky" at the end of the quote implies to the novice that one could go out after their T-Day supper and see it when that is not the case.

The enthusiast should use real time programs to check the location and time for possible viewing opportunities.

   Note

From the "I don't like it, but it is a sign of the times" department.

If the source link to Comet Encounter doesn't pick up on your location and station by interpreting your IP address you can click on PBS below the menu bar that will then take you to the main site where above the menu bar you will see a link to change stations by using your postal zip code or regional area.

Also take note of a new development with the PBS site. It doesn't like it if you use any type of private browsing and will throw up nag screens to warn you. I clicked on one OK ten times before it finally allowed me to continue, and I wasn't using private browsing at the time. (FF25.0.1).

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I just found out about a free app called Comet Watch available for the iPhone or iPad. Updated by the minute, the app promises to point users in the direction of ISON, whose location can change quickly.

Source: Comet Watch-Powered by Distant Suns | itunes.apple.com

Well, not that quickly.

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Must be my night for nitpicking... and a small rant, but am I the only one to notice the carelessness in the use of verbal communication skills lately?

I'll be the first to admit that I probably have a dozen errors in this post, but I've been noticing it more and more with the "Fourth Estate".

Watched the last couple of mornings but nothing pity as the sky has been as clear as hope you folks have had a good view.

John I suspect you'll need a decent pair of binoculars, maybe in the 10X range at this time. It should be brighter later on. I can't see it yet either with my 8X glasses. They are 8X22 so slim on light gathering power.

John, not sure if you have seen this site, there is a map to help in locating ISON: Comet ISON from the Southern Hemisphere | Sydney Observatory

Gary, those 8x's should be able to pick up ISON now (4.10mag.), make sure you double check the location. At 5am tomorrow morning it will be 110° East/Southeast about halfway between Spica and your horizon at 4° altitude, and that's not much.
Glad to hear you and yours made it through the rough weather yesterday.


My next few mornings will have good seeing so I'll be out.

Ok I am now guessing it is because the comet is obscured by the hills and trees at the critical point. I have some 10x binoculars and a 10x monocular but the obstructions are such that I think to get a clear view one would have to be at the top of a mountain or on the coast.

There has been that very large and bright "star" in out west at around 10pm that is I am thinking now either Mars or more likely Saturn as Mars usually is tinged a very faint red colour.

You've analyzed your predicament pretty well John, and I'm in the same Dire Straits. Now that ISON is bright enough on its own (3.4mag) it is getting too close to the Sun's glare to see it as it rises into the morning sky.

These are skymaps from the perspective of the Australian Astronomical Observatory.

This is 40" before Sunrise but ISON is barely 5° above the horizon:


This one is just before Sunrise at barely 10°:


So anyone trying to view ISON before it rounds the Sun on the 28th better have as clear as possible view of the horizon to have a chance to see it.


The bright object you mention seeing at 10pm is Venus, Saturn is following ISON there in the morning as shown in the first screenshot.


Mars has already risen about an hour before Sunrise and precedes ISON.



The waning gibbous Moon; It was full on the 18th doesn't help the seeing either.

Ok mate I reckon maybe after it has flown by might be better then. What I thought was Saturn must be Venus though it is very much larger than normal.