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| http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2013/nov/11/comet-lovejoy-upstages-ison/ |
Lately many crystal clear nights have
dazzled this amateur astronomer. Out in the wee morning hours (3 am through 5 am),
the sky is studded with jewels. The hunt
for Comet ISON, expected to become naked eye within a week, goes on. One would
think that a 10 x 50 binocular would haul it in. But no, the Virgo field of
stars still cradles empty space. With such nightly disappointments over the
proclaimed “comet of the century” amateurs like me happily stare at other things
in the sky; for example, M-81 and M-82 or a quick sweep of Mars and Jupiter
with its tiny moons. A satellite, a meteorite, a
bolide now and then, like the one that streaked across the dipper last night, pumps
the adrenaline.
Of course, other comets are in the sky in
the pre-dawn hours.
Encke and Lovejoy are up. My search of posted
internet locations, as well as a look at my Edmund Mag-6 maps fixed the
coordinates in my mind. According to reports, 3 am Pacific Time, since I live
in Southern California, would be ideal for getting out under the stars.
Bingo! High in the sky just north of the
sickle of Leo’s head, Lovejoy makes its appearance. No longer crushed by ISON’s
poor showing, Lovejoy has stolen my astronomer’s heart. Bright as the Andromeda
galaxy in my 10 x 50 Celestial Innovations Binocular with its 6.5 degree field,
Comet Lovejoy kept me up through 5 am. Of course it’s rounder than the galaxy,
has a brighter head and bulges slightly right, it's tail? Here's the best image as I saw it.
So get out your binoculars!
This site shows both ISON and Lovejoy in time lapse video. Although ISON needs
telescopic capability, Lovejoy puts on an almost naked eye show.
