Seattle Forrest

Enormous Comet Has Entered Our Inner Solar System, Heading Towards Earth

Scientists have known about comet C/2017 K2 for several years—the Hubble telescope observed it back in 2017 when it was the farthest active inbound comet ever seen. At that time the icy space ball was a huge 1.5 billion miles away from our star—even further away than Saturn. Even at that distance, the comet, estimated to be roughly 12 miles across or less, was heating up and had developed an 80,000 mile-wide cloud of dust and gas around it.

https://www.newsweek.com/comet-c-201...-cloud-1720255

Seattle Forrest

Giant comet is now visible, here’s how to see it

Ottum tells me C/2017 K2 is heading toward the sun, and coming closer to Earth. The comet will make its closest approach to Earth on July 14. Ottum says what makes this comet fascinating is its size. “The snow-covered-rock nucleus is huge, twice as big as Mt. Everest,” according to Ottum. As it flies closer to the sun, it warms up and the ice evaporates, forming an even bigger fog shroud.
https://www.mlive.com/weather/2022/0...outputType=amp

DiabloScott

I propose we call this something easier to remember, like Comet Chameleon.

I remember as a kid in ~3rd grade science class my teacher told us about Bennet's Comet and we could see it at about 4am. So I set my alarm clock and went out to look and it was pretty cool - fuzzy snowball with a good tail; but I was surprised I couldn't tell it was moving.


Not my photo

Hondo Gravel

I missed the spaceship back in 1997 so I am stuck here on Earth
The spaceship included God I am going.

Seattle Forrest

This was my best neowise photo. From the lookout on North Mountain.



I was also surprised how it looked still and unmoving in the sky.

SurferRosa

James Temple: [Praying] Make the big wave. Send it crashing down on us. Destroy us all, if need be. But punish him.

Johnny Rocco: Shut up, old man! l'm warning you!

Temple: Hear me. Hear me!

Rocco: I'll kill you!

Temple: Make a big wave. Send it against us. Take us all. But destroy him.


.

Seattle Forrest

The article says you need a telescope for this one.

You can see Jupiter and its four Galilean moons with a 300 mm lens and an SLR. So maybe we'll see some photos soon.

Seattle Forrest

Reminder for everybody living in places with clear skies.

Hondo Gravel

Something to look for at night since it will be near 108 this weekend. My older self is not enjoying this heat. I either can’t take it anymore or I’m wiser now and try to stay out of it. I’m worried about the pregnant deer fixin to give birth any day now. Been staying up until 3-4 AM just to be outside. I would night ride but too many drunks on the road. I will be looking for that comet that will be cool.

aRoudy1

You'll need a telescope to see it.

skidder

You can see four planets up the eastern/southeastern sky just before dawn, the coolest part of the day. Look east then up and slightly to the south (right) - Venus will be the bright one closest to the horizon, Mars up above and to the south (kinda reddish and dull). Jupiter farther up (the bright one that doesn't 'twinkle' like a star), then farther up and south is Saturn (not as bright as Jupiter). Mercury was visible in late-June but its gone now; it was down low, just above the horizon, just before the first rays of the sun would start appearing

Hondo Gravel

Then I will look for UFOs instead.

Seattle Forrest

Yes.

But you can capture it with a good camera. An app can get you aim your camera if you aren't using a telephoto lens.

Hondo Gravel

What about binoculars?

Kat12

I don't think so.

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essen...s-summer-2022/

Mad Honk 

Hondo,
Borrow ahsposo's. He hasn't used it since he quit looking at dancers from the down by the river bar while inside his van. Smiles, MH

Hondo Gravel

Deal4Fuji

...or a live feed YouTube with music As of this morning post it says the best view is 13 minutes away, but that might just mean for today ???