a new comet on view

[nytecam]

A new and brightish comet called Lulin is currently on view late in the evening
and early hours in the southeast sky. I got lucky this morning at 2AM [after a bathroom break!] and through binoculars from the patio it appeared as a ‘fuzzball’ immediately above bright bluish star Spica.

Over the next week it brightens somewhat and moves west [right] towards planet Saturn – the bright ‘star’ due east and low down about 9PM. The best views, as usual, from dark unpolluted sites. The following links may be useful..

main link= SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids

Comet Lulin story=
NASA - Green Comet Approaches Earth

Comet Lulin finder starchart=
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2...orth_lulin_24f
eb09.gif

amateur photo Gallery=
Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) photo gallery
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Good luck

[Green Man]

Was aware of this Nytecam but thanks for the posting. Hope it fires others interests.
Seen a few over the years -Hale Bopp/Tabor/Hyakatake etc - but it never fails to amaze and astound me when a new one comes along!

[tameblackbirds]

lets hope for some clear nights. Would like to see this will it appear green through binoculars or is it too far away?

[carlos_dfc]

Yep - I saw it last week in binoculars (15x70) too Nytecam. It was just above and right of Zubenelgenubi (in Libra) the night I saw it (well, more like earky morning - LOL)

It's now estimated to be borderline naked-eye visible from a good dark site.
I just wish the cloud-gods would give me a break

Closest point to Earth expected to be the night of 23rd/24th Feb, and it'll pass within 2° below Saturn that same night. A good photo-opportunity for widefield imagers.

Starry-Night Pro, after a fresh online comet update, puts it currently at magnitude 6.2 - brightening to it's peak at just under mag 6 on 23rd and 24th.
Comets can be unoredictable though (Holmes!!) so one never knows...........

Anxiously watching the weather, in anticipation

[carlos_dfc]

Originally Posted by tameblackbirds

lets hope for some clear nights. Would like to see this will it appear green through binoculars or is it too far away?

Yep, it has a greenish tint in binocs - or at least it did last week

[Ruth Daniel]

I didn't know about this so thanks for the info and links Nytecam!

[nytecam]

First clear night for ages in London - couldn't see comet Lulin in 15x70 bins due to severe light pollution but scope+cam does the business in 21min exposure like this. The comet is moving against the star background which comes out like Morse-code eg streaks for each star during three 7min exposures over half an hour. Hope that makes sense!

[Phoebe]

Ooh thanks for the info nytecam, my front window looks out SE so barring a cloudy night I will see this!

[wildlifesnapper]

Cloud forcast here for the next few days

neil

[petermcgain]

I'm looking forward to viewing Lulin, but too often this winter the clouds have wrecked star-gazing. Has this winter been especially bad, or have I just been unlucky?!