Comet Lulin Is Moving Closer To Earth

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Comet Lulin Is Moving Closer To Earth

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday January 12, 2009 @01:51AM from the space-sparkles dept.

goran72 writes "The comet is swinging around the Sun and approaching the Earth. The photogenic Lulin has a bright tail and an 'anti-tail.' At its closest approach in February, Comet Lulin is expected to brighten to naked-eye visibility, reaching a magnitude of six."

23 of 97 comments (clear)

My eyes... by pondermaster · 2009-01-12 01:55 · Score: 2, Funny

...are always naked.
Where's this pesky eyeware shop they're talking about?
Re:Magnitude of six... what by d3m0nCr4t · 2009-01-12 01:55 · Score: 5, Informative

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparent_magnitude
Mag 6 is *not* naked eye visible by petes_PoV · 2009-01-12 01:56 · Score: 5, Insightful

unless you live in the very darkest regions, utterly devoid of streetlighting.
I really wish people wouldn't talk up comets. They almost never live up to the hype - partly because the commentators are either hopelessly optimistic or over-enthusiastic. Then when the "average" person sticks their head out at night - hoping to see something spectacular, they are gravely disappointed.
This kind of thing damages the scientific credibility as a whole and turns people off the idea of beleiving scientists: "remember that comet they told us about - what a bust that was, I guess name of global catastrophe is the same - waste of time".

--
politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
1. Re:Mag 6 is *not* naked eye visible by Cowmonaut · 2009-01-12 02:55 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I'd laugh, but its not as funny knowing you'd have to black out the entire city in order to get rid of the light pollution.
2. Re:Mag 6 is *not* naked eye visible by biocute · 2009-01-12 03:13 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  local transformers are located
  Then what? One of them transforms into a telescope when you threaten it with the shotgun?
  
  --
  Virtual Betting on Facebook for non-geeks.
3. Re:Mag 6 is *not* naked eye visible by TapeCutter · 2009-01-12 03:31 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  "[Comets] almost never live up to the hype"
  
  I've been looking at the sky for comets since around the time of the moon landings, Hayley's comet was a big dissapointment even though I was living in the bush at the time and had near perfect skies. However a couple of years ago when a I got break in a week of cloudy sky I saw Comet McNaght at it's peak brightness looking very much like this to (an old fart's) naked eye, from a beachside suburb in the glow of a major city! After 40yrs of looking at the sky I finally saw a comet in all it's awsome glory, but by that time comets were no longer the reason I habitually enjoyed "sticking my head out at night".
  
  This kind of thing damages the scientific credibility as a whole and turns people off the idea of beleiving scientists: "remember that comet they told us about - what a bust that was, I guess name of global catastrophe is the same - waste of time".
  
  Slightly offtopic but I don't agree, the only reason to belive scientists has got nothing to do with the scientists theselves. How many posts do we see on slashdot following the religious right's "unthinking is a virtue" philosophy when it comes to a political rant against the IPCC, they ranters fail to even read, let alone falsify the assertions contained within it's reports. And to add insult to injury these type of anti-science rants are often modded insightfull by what is supposed to be a bunch of nerds. I agree with Dawkins and Sagan that the "unthinking is a virtue" philosophy is our worst enemy but scientists are the last group of people I would blame for it's popularity.
  
  --
  And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
4. Re:Mag 6 is *not* naked eye visible by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2009-01-12 05:48 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Then what? One of them transforms into a telescope when you threaten it with the shotgun?
  Well, Perceptor might if you aimed at his.... cripes, I can't believe I have a girlfriend.
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
5. Re:Mag 6 is *not* naked eye visible by mowall · 2009-01-12 06:22 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Somehow, through editing the original post, the words "milky way" ended up not appearing in the post at all....
  They are there, just not visible to the naked eye.
6. Re:Mag 6 is *not* naked eye visible by agrounds · 2009-01-12 07:55 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Having spent the entirety of my childhood in Houston, I always had an interest in astronomy and had a decently mounted catadioptric refractor that I used quite a bit to see/sketch the moon but the city glow makes the entire night sky bright orange. Stars and planets were pretty much off the menu except right after cold fronts in the winter, when I would sit outside for hours with a chart and try to track down all the stars I could find. It was never very many though, but it was exciting.
  I went on an extended hiking and camping trip to the White Mountains in Colorado when I was 14 and on a whim decided to lug my scope with me strapped to the bottom of my pack. It was heavy and more of a burden than I thought it would be, but the very first evening we set camp at ~9,000 feet. After a trout dinner and some relaxing, the sun went down and slowly but surely the night sky began to appear. It was as close to a religious experience as I have ever had. I didn't sleep that night even though I had hiked for hours the previous day and was still trying to come to terms with "non-sea-level" atmospheric pressure.
  Since then, I have seen the sky from many other vantage points with equally impressive vistas, but I still look back on that trip fondly. It was the first time I felt truly humbled and how insignificant we all are in the universe.
7. Re:Mag 6 is *not* naked eye visible by TapeCutter · 2009-01-12 20:58 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  "It was as close to a religious experience as I have ever had."
  
  My lady friend is a moderate Christian and was in her late thirties when I met her. Although she had occasionally been under them she had never looked up at a dark sky, she also belived I could not "know" the feeling of religious awe because...well...I am not religions. When I showed her a dark sky and described our physical place in the milky way she was gob-smacked and she knew that I knew. We were also lucky enough to spot about a dozen leonoids over a few hours.
  
  There were a few dozen people on the beach in 2007 but she is the only person I know in Melbourne who saw McNaught that night. Some of my friends/family saw a much dimmer version about a week later but most people belive it was "another over-hyped dissapointment" (as the OP puts it).
  
  --
  And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
I hope the machines don't come alive...... by Shakrai · 2009-01-12 01:56 · Score: 3, Funny

Reference for those too young to remember it ;)
I'll make a mental note to stay away from 18 wheelers for the next few weeks :P

--
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
Re:Magnitude of six... what by captainpanic · 2009-01-12 01:59 · Score: 2, Informative

"Apparent magnitude" is the measure for brightness that astronomers use. Read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparent_magnitude The magnitude 6 means (according to wikipedia) it's between the brightness of the faintest stars observable with the naked eye and the planet Uranus. The measure has no SI units like joules, meters or something like that. It's a relative scale.
Re:Magnitude of six... what by martinw89 · 2009-01-12 02:00 · Score: 3, Informative

Ahh OK, not being familiar with apparent magnitude I was looking for some sort of unit to search for. Now I see.
For those interested in the brightness of the comet, it will be somewhere between the Uranus (at its brightest) and the faintest stars visible to the naked eye.
Oh Hai by bigdaddyhame · 2009-01-12 02:12 · Score: 4, Funny

I hope this doesn't set off a lulcomets meme or somethin'
(comet pic)
OH HAI JUZ PASSIN THRU KTHXBYE
I'm lulin'

--
---- You are fully entitled to my opinion.
Comet viewing can be incredible... by fractalrock · 2009-01-12 02:19 · Score: 5, Interesting

I was in the Navy, out at sea (probably Atlantic) when Hale-Bopp was visible.

A few of the guys I worked with would venture out on deck at night, usually to sip whiskey or stargaze, or talk about how much we hated the Nav. Anyway, I've seen comets before so when a buddy said 'you should really come outside and see the comet' I was thinking 'meh...'

When I stepped outside, I initially thought the moon was out it was so bright on deck. I look up at the sky and almost fell down (seriously...had to catch myself). The comet was so bright and beautiful it damn near took my breath away. It stretched 3/4 of the way across the visible sky; looking like some kind of cosmic jewel.

I got to see a lot of interesting things while serving, but the comet was a definite highlight.
1. Re:Comet viewing can be incredible... by Shakrai · 2009-01-12 02:31 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I'd like to get out to sea someday just to see the sky without light pollution. Your story isn't the first one I've heard that makes me jealous I've never made it. The closest you can come on land is probably the Australian Outback. Every year I've tried to get up to the Adirondacks for the same reason and every time I've made it we've had full cloud cover :(
  In my area it's not as bad -- you can actually drive 15 minutes and escape the worst of the city lights -- but it's still not the same as being out in the real boonies or out to sea. I feel real bad for the city dwellers that have never even seen the Milky Way or more than a handful of stars.
  
  --
  I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
  We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
Re:Magnitude of six... what by Igarden2 · 2009-01-12 02:50 · Score: 2, Funny

But mine goes to 11.

--
Normally I ascribe all life to intelligent design, but in your case I'll make an exception.
Re:You donÂt say... by Igarden2 · 2009-01-12 03:03 · Score: 2, Interesting

Sometimes comets are not 'most visible' when closest to the earth. I believe it depends also on how much the 'tail' has developed (usually a function of proximity to the sun) and it's apparent position relative to day and night in our sky. Comets just don't appear as bright in our day sky as in the night sky. FYI, there have been some spectacular comets clearly visible in the daytime.

--
Normally I ascribe all life to intelligent design, but in your case I'll make an exception.
Re:Magnitude of six... what by Thanshin · 2009-01-12 03:11 · Score: 4, Funny

Six... what?
You have to read between the lines.
They've already told you about the tail and the anti-tail. Right there you should think:
"Anti tail? what are they talking about? ... Oh, teh opposite of a tail ... A tail on the opposite side. ... hmmm ... ... Ahh, hehe, yeah, anti-tail, hehe, clever ... ... hmm I wonder if mine is bigger..."
And right there you get the answer. "It has a magnitude of 6". So, the answer to your original question is, clearly, "Inches".
You're welcome.
Re:Punch anyone? by gpronger · 2009-01-12 03:18 · Score: 2, Informative

Spike it. You'll get more showing up than if it was simply if it visible. And if you spike it strong enough, they'll think that saw it. Where you located, I may show up if you follow my advice?

Greg P
So the difference... by wren337 · 2009-01-12 03:59 · Score: 2, Informative

...between "stargazers are in for a treat" and "terrified population faces end of days" is about 0.41 Astronomical Units. Interesting.
Anti-tail? by thewiz · 2009-01-12 05:02 · Score: 2, Funny

The photogenic Lulin has a bright tail and an "anti-tail".
Are astrophysicists sure this isn't a fin?
[Insert "Jaws" theme here]

--
If "disco" means "I learn" in Latin, does "discothèque" mean "I learn technology"?
Distance- Does Not Compute by DrLudicrous · 2009-01-12 05:21 · Score: 2, Interesting

The comet will pass 0.41 Astronomical Units from earth and reach its closest distance to Earth on February 24, about 14.5 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
Given that the average earth-moon distance is 384403 km, 14.5 times this is about 5.57 million km. This translates into about 0.0373 AU, which differs from .41 AU by about a factor of 11. Can anyone explain this discrepancy?