Ikeya-Zhang Cometh

nefertari writes: "It seems that comet Ikeya-Zhang will brighten a lot. A recent picture is today's APOD. Currently he should be visible in the evening, but from April on, you can watch him in the morning." We had an earlier story on this comet and several people posted good links.

Comments

SLASHDOT sells out to the MAN -- YOW!

[babbage]

First this Slashdot subscription nonsense, no we get thinly disguised Ikea ads being passed off as "astronomy news". Yeah right Michael, we aren't gonna fall for that one...

;)

Excellent!

[AnotherSteve]

I've been thinking of starting a cult recently, and the arrival of another comet gives me a fine opportunity.

Historical Note:

[Nyphur]

It is interesting to note that the comet was seen over 340 years ago by people who weren't quite sure what it was and was marked down as a "bright light in the sky". So we see that on it's last passing near earth's orbit in 1661 it was visible to the naked eye just as it is now. At that time it was also recorded as a very bright comet by the scientific coomunity which existed at the time, but to the leity it was seen as a "sign from God".

I belive it was seen during a war, but I never listened when i did History at school. What war was it, if there was a war at the time at all?

Re:Historical Note:

[Remus Shepherd]

Now that modern astronomers have seen this comet, they're taking precise measurements of its orbit. By their calculations, they figure it should also have been visible about 340 years ago. (Or, put another way, its orbit has a 340 year period.) Then they checked the historical records for any comets mentioned about that time, and found one that fit. QED.