Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Comet Ikeya-Zhang Credit & Copyright: Andrew Cooper Comet Ikeya-Zhang is presently heading north in planet Earth's sky, framed by stars of the constellation Cetus. The comet was discovered as a faint, telescopic object near the western horizon on the evening of February 1st independently by Kaoru Ikeya of Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, Daqing Zhang in Henan province, China, and later by observer Paulo Raymundo of Salvador, Brazil. But Ikeya-Zhang is expected to brighten significantly and in March and April could become visible to the unaided eye. This picture, taken near Tucson, Arizona, USA on the evening of February 9th, covers a field a bit less than the width of the full moon showing the comet's condensed coma and narrow, developing tail. Ikeya-Zhang should pass closest to the Sun (perihelion) on March 18 at a point roughly midway between the orbits of Mercury and Venus. Based on preliminary calculations of this comet's orbit, Ikeya-Zhang is suspected of being a periodic comet, returning to the inner Solar System every 500 years or so. In fact, it is speculated that Ikeya-Zhang may be directly connected with a historic bright comet seen in 1532.
Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! While viewing opportunities will be favored for the Northern Hemisphere, the news is not all that good for naked eye observers. We will be hampered by bright moon light during the last week of March. It will be visible in the NNW horizon about an hour after sundown. After the first week in April, the moon will not be a factor but the comet will be faint by then, requiring viewing devices to see it.
"But Ikeya-Zhang is expected to brighten significantly and in March and April could become visible to the unaided eye", So this is not true
That's one of those it is and it isn't. If your an astronomer or if your location is premium then you have a better chance than if you are located in the city. Also the initial post came from other sources that I did not write. I do that to maintain interest in the forum.
Good pic. And who'd've thought a comet named after a Swedish furnishings retailer! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
