Comet ISON is here ... sort of!

Well it's been over a year since comet ISON (C/2012 S1) was first discovered by Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok of Russia on 21 September 2012. Now, just about to pass Mars’ orbit on the way to the Sun, C/2012 S1 will come to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 28 November 2013 at a distance of 0.012 AU (1,800,000 km; 1,100,000 mi) from the center point of the Sun. That’s pretty darn close! If it survives its close encounter we may be in for a real treat come early December when ISON may become one of the greatest comets of all time.

Predicting comet brightness is difficult at best. There have been many flops in the last few decades (some will remember – or not – comet Kohoutek in 1973-74 which was then called the “Comet of the Century”). However, even though recent data suggests ISON will not be as bright as originally predicted it should still be visible to the naked eye and sport an easily identifiable tail.

Although not visible to the naked eye in October, those with binoculars or small telescopes should be able to pick up ISON as it heads closer and closer to the Sun. A good time to look is early in the morning on October 15 when ISON passes just 1° north of Mars in the constellation of Leo the Lion. It makes the leftmost point of a line created by Mars and Regulus, about 1° between each. The comet will be dim, about magnitude 9, but patient observers should be able pick her out. It's unlikely that you will be able to see any tail, but a fuzzy spot should be apparent.

ISON in the east, October 15, 2013 5:00 AM
About 22° above the horizon

As seen in a typical pair of 10x50 binoculars

As ISON approaches I will be planning to view it and will report any news here. Will ISON be the Comet of 'this' Century? We can only hope.