5Amp said:

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Wormwood possibly

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i am not a biblical scholar nor an astronomer but if i were to wager on what could be wormwood i would o speculate it is apophis. it's timing lines up potentially and even the name of the comet has biblical connotations from egyptian gods during moses time. 2029 is the year.

found our new driller

javajaws said:

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YouBet said:

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TheEternalOptimist said:

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I have $200 telescope I got at Costco a few years ago. That's the extend of my amateur astronomy skills.

The strangest thing about this object is that it has had a tail going towards the sun instead of trailing away from it with the solar wind. In theory, this should only happen if there is venting at the front of the object that is faster than it's motion OR if the object was slowing down, which it is not doing.

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From the internet. Someone else can verify:

Quote:

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If a comet is moving away from the Sun, its tail will trail behind it (as you might expect).

But if a comet is moving toward the Sun, the tail actually points ahead of it, away from the Sun which can look "backward" compared to the comet's path.

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That reads like it was written by bad AI

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My understanding is the gas and dust sublimating off a comet has the same velocity and trajectory as the comet it was part of as it leaves the surface, so is almost motionless relative to the comet body initially. This is space, so there is no "drag" from gas as we are intuitively used to as beings on a planet with an atmosphere. As that dust and gas separates, it is the subject to the constant particle stream of "solar wind", I.e. high momentum radiation particles, high energy photons, etc emitted by the sub, and they move the dust particles away from the comet body, but always in a direction away from the sun itself, no matter where the comet body is on its pass. As the Comet passes around the Sun and the loosed tail particles are pushed away from the sun and are increasingly less influence by the tiny gravity of the comet body and more by their own inertia and the solar wind, they make a strange smear as visible from Earth, that can appear as a n arc or spread or streak depending on earth's positioning.

TyHolden said:

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This is really bad if true.
Bruce Willis is very sick and Ben Afleck is still outside smoking a cigarette.
We gotta find new drillers.

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We need a new killer ballad to tie it all together

zag213004 said:

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TyHolden said:

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This is really bad if true.
Bruce Willis is very sick and Ben Afleck is still outside smoking a cigarette.
We gotta find new drillers.

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We need a new killer ballad to tie it all together

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Steven Tyler lost his voice

TyHolden said:

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zag213004 said:

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TyHolden said:

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This is really bad if true.
Bruce Willis is very sick and Ben Afleck is still outside smoking a cigarette.
We gotta find new drillers.

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We need a new killer ballad to tie it all together

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Steven Tyler lost his voice

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Correction - Steven Tyler lost his mind......

Feels like Heavens Gate should have waited for this one. Seems like more of the…..real…..deal. [/wonk says using his best Dennis Miller impression]

doubledog said:

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Do you mean this photo from the Web telescope? Or is there a better telescope out there?

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Why wouldn't the tail grow?

As it approaches the sun the previously frozen gas sublimates and creates a tail.

Will this comet ever be visible without a high end telescope?

Also, how do I get the aliens to take me with them like they did in Cocoon? I am worried if I stay here long enough I might end up with diabeetus.

Dad said:

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Will this comet ever be visible without a high end telescope?

Also, how do I get the aliens to take me with them like they did in Cocoon? I am worried if I stay here long enough I might end up with diabeetus.

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"No vacancy!"

I read somewhere you'll need at least an 8" telescope to see it. I don't know if that qualifies as high-end.

MouthBQ98 said:

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javajaws said:

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YouBet said:

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TheEternalOptimist said:

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I have $200 telescope I got at Costco a few years ago. That's the extend of my amateur astronomy skills.

The strangest thing about this object is that it has had a tail going towards the sun instead of trailing away from it with the solar wind. In theory, this should only happen if there is venting at the front of the object that is faster than it's motion OR if the object was slowing down, which it is not doing.

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From the internet. Someone else can verify:

Quote:

---

If a comet is moving away from the Sun, its tail will trail behind it (as you might expect).

But if a comet is moving toward the Sun, the tail actually points ahead of it, away from the Sun which can look "backward" compared to the comet's path.

---

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That reads like it was written by bad AI

---

My understanding is the gas and dust sublimating off a comet has the same velocity and trajectory as the comet it was part of as it leaves the surface, so is almost motionless relative to the comet body initially. This is space, so there is no "drag" from gas as we are intuitively used to as beings on a planet with an atmosphere. As that dust and gas separates, it is the subject to the constant particle stream of "solar wind", I.e. high momentum radiation particles, high energy photons, etc emitted by the sub, and they move the dust particles away from the comet body, but always in a direction away from the sun itself, no matter where the comet body is on its pass. As the Comet passes around the Sun and the loosed tail particles are pushed away from the sun and are increasingly less influence by the tiny gravity of the comet body and more by their own inertia and the solar wind, they make a strange smear as visible from Earth, that can appear as a n arc or spread or streak depending on earth's positioning.

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Orbital sanders

boulderaggie said:

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I read somewhere you'll need at least an 8" telescope to see it. I don't know if that qualifies as high-end.

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I've got a 10" dobsonian that I was thinking of giving a go, but it's a pain in the ass to track moving objects with that big SOB, and the comet is already going to be very faint so I'll probably just be pissing in the wind.

AI recommendation seems to be resorting to astrophotography using a 14"+ telescope.

"To see comet 3I/ATLAS, you will need a powerful telescope, with at least a 14-inch aperture, and even then, it will be challenging to see visually. A 14-inch or larger telescope is recommended for imaging the comet, which is the best way to observe it due to its faintness, with smaller telescopes likely to have difficulty capturing it, even under dark skies."

What you will need

Telescope:

At least 14 inches (35.5 cm) in aperture for imaging. Visually, it will be extremely difficult to see.

Dark skies:

You will need to be in a location with very little light pollution for any chance of seeing it.
Camera and mount: An astronomical camera with a good mount is essential for imaging the faint comet.

Knowledge:

A good understanding of astrophotography and stacking images will be necessary to get a clear picture.
App or sky charts: Using a star chart or an app like Celestron SkyPortal can help you locate the comet in the sky.

Tips for observing:

Go to a public star party: This is the best way to see the comet with a large telescope and an experienced observer.

Use a smart telescope:

A smart telescope is likely your best option, as it is designed for imaging faint objects and will require a smaller aperture.

The comet is very faint, with an estimated apparent magnitude of around 14 to 15.5, making it very dim for visual observers.
Even at its brightest, it will not be visible to the naked eye or binoculars, and you will need a good amount of magnification and light-gathering power to see it with a telescope.