COMET HIGHLIGHTS FOR May 2014
2014-May-03
Section Updates
A Comet Magnitude Repository page has been added to the Comest Section site. This page will list all visual and CCD magnitude estimates submitted to the Section. Currently, we have magnitude estimates for all the comet mentioned below. Links to instructions and other resources related to making comet magnitude estimates can be found here.
Evening Comets
C/2014 E2 (Jacques) [Perihelion on 2014-Jul-02 at 0.67 AU from the Sun]
A relatively new discovery, C/2014 E2 (Jacques) rapidly brightened and is set to take the title of ‘brightest comet in the sky’. Magnitude estimates have been all over the place and range from 8th to 10th magnitude. The cause of the problem is that the comet appears to possess a very large, low surface brightness gas coma. As a result, brightness measurements are very sensitive to sky conditions, magnification and even the observer’s sensitivity to blue light. Based on CCD measurements and those of visual observers observing under excellent sky conditions, the comet seems to currently be between magnitude 8.0 and 8.5. If it continues brightening it could be close to 6-7th magnitude by the end of the month. Unfortunately by then, the comet will be too close to the Sun for observers in the Northern Hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere observers will be able to follow the comet into early June before they also lose it in the glare of the Sun. The comet will be back for northern observers in mid-July when it may be as bright as 5th magnitude. Southern observers are out of luck till September.
This month the comet is moving towards the northwest in Monoceros. On May 1st it is 1.38 AU from the Sun and 1.19 AU from Earth. By the end of the month its heliocentric distance decreases to 0.92 AU while its geocentric distance increases to 1.61 AU. Comet Jacques is a dynamically old comet meaning it has been through the inner Solar System before. Such comets usually brighten at a faster than average rate so Jacques is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Recent ALPO images and observations of C/2014 E2 (Jacques) can be found in the Comet Section Image Gallery. Finder charts can be found on the Comet Chasing website.
C/2012 K1 (PANSTARRS) [Perihelion on 2014-Aug-27 at 1.05 AU from the Sun]
PANSTARRS is currently around 9th magnitude. It should continue to slowly brighten as it moves through Ursa Major. The comet continues to sport two tails, a broad, bright dust tail trailing the comet’s orbit and a narrow, fainter ion tail. CCD imagers have also been noting some strange coma morphology such as persistent dust halo (see the images in the Comet Section Gallery for the development of this feature). The current prediction is for PANSTARRS to brighten up to 7th magnitude. One caveat though, this is another example of a dynamically new comet making its first pass through the inner Solar System (just like last year’s ISON) and these comets have a track record of underperforming when close to the Sun. Comet PANSTARRS starts the month 2.11 AU from the Sun and 1.48 AU from Earth and ends the month 1.74 AU from the Sun and 1.65 AU from Earth.
Finder charts for C/2012 K1 can be found on the Comet Chasing website.
Morning Comets
C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) [Perihelion on 2014-Feb-21 at 1.60 AU from the Sun]
Now over two month since perihelion, C/2012 X1 is still around magnitude 8.0-8.5. The comet’s brightness should fade slowly as it moves through Aquarius. Its distance from the Sun will increase from 1.84 to 2.07 AU this month while its distance from Earth slightly decreases from 1.76 to 1.61 AU.
Finder charts for C/2013 R1 can be found on the Comet Chasing website. Its ALPO image gallery can be found here.
Fainter, but Noteworthy Comets
209P/LINEAR [Perihelion on 2014-May-06 at 0.97 AU from the Sun]
The year’s closest (predicted) comet approach to Earth will be by 209P/LINEAR as it passes within 0.055 AU on May 29. The comet may produce a meteor shower on the night of May 24 UT as we encounter many of its older dust trails. Even though the comet will be very close, it is a relative runt of a comet and should only brighten up to magnitude 10-11. As of the end of April, the comet is still a faint 16th magnitude with little coma and a short tail. Still, CCD and large aperture visual observers should be able to enjoy the show as the comet rapidly moves across the sky in late May. 209P spends most of the month in Ursa Major but as it flies past Earth it rapidly moves to the south and by June 1st is located in Hydra.
Recent images can be found here.
As always, the Comet Section is happy to receive all comet observations, whether images, drawings or magnitude estimates.
- Carl Hergenrother (ALPO Comet Section Coordinator)
