As I type these words Comet Siding Spring is making its pass by the Red Planet. The two are just rising in the southeast here in Baton Rouge. The professional science coverage of this event is addressed in the original Siding Spring thread started by Tom Northrop.
Will Baton Rougeans be able to see Siding Spring this week? I don't know...
These are the times at which the Sun is eighteen degrees below the horizon. In parentheses are the comet's separation from Mars and its magnitude, according to The Starry Night.
19 October = 7:49pm (separation 0˚16', mag 10.1)
20 October = 7:49pm (separation 1˚13', mag 10.1)
21 October = 7:48pm (separation 2˚10', mag 10.2)
22 October = 7:47pm (separation 3˚06', mag 10.2)
Mars is in the southwest now and is 20 degrees up during all above times.
Astronomy says an "8-inch or larger telescope and an excellent sky" are mandatory.
C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)
-
Christopher K.
- Posts: 6246
- Joined: October 12th, 2009, 3:28 pm
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
-
Christopher K.
- Posts: 6246
- Joined: October 12th, 2009, 3:28 pm
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Re: C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)
The Highland Road Park Observatory will present a lecture entitled "Comet Encounter at Mars" on Friday, 7 November at 7:30pm. The lecture will showcase the latest images and data (to date) of this historic event. The lecture is free admission.
-
Christopher K.
- Posts: 6246
- Joined: October 12th, 2009, 3:28 pm
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Re: C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)
Robert McNaught discovered this comet in New South Wales with images made on 3 January 2013. He used a 51cm Uppsala Schmidt telescope. Siding Spring was approximately magnitude 18.5 at time of discovery.
On 20 January Robert Gorelli suggested a possible close pass by Mars.
More information:
http://www.cometography.com/lcomets/2013A1.html
On 20 January Robert Gorelli suggested a possible close pass by Mars.
More information:
http://www.cometography.com/lcomets/2013A1.html