Kamo’oalewa and Comet Leonard questions

[Jnicholes]

Hi everyone,

So, I have two questions. First question concerns this article.

https://time.com/6116644/earth-second-moon/

My first question is this. Do you think that this “moon” will be observable from earth? I’m just curious.

Second question is about comet Leonard. It looks like it’s going to be getting close to earth on December 12. I plan on trying to snap pictures of it. I want to start early, though. I know it’s in Canis Venaciti, and I have a good spot with no light pollution, but do you guys think I could see that comet tonight with my telescope and my phone app (Nightcap) I frequently use?

As usual, I am using my 80mm refractor, 900mm focal length, with a computer mount.

Jared

[JayTee]

Yoshida's Comet page has it brightening to mag 4 right around Christmas. It should be easily viewable with binos starting in early December. Your best bet is to get up early to look for it.

Check out this web page.
http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2021A1/2021A1.html

[Jnicholes]

OK, that made me laugh! Here’s why:

“Aerith,” is the name of a character from one of my favorite games, Final Fantasy VII. Spoiler alert, the original game has a giant meteor that threatens the planet.

Still, thanks for the info. It made me laugh, and it was useful!

[WilliamPaolini]

I understand that at its brightest the visual magnitude is around 22-23, so way too dim for any telescope. If you have a 100" telescope then maybe.

[JayTee]

Hi Bill,

Make sure you're looking at C/2021 A1 and not C/2017 W2. Both are named Leonard! C/2017 W2 is showing up at about mag 22. Whereas C2021 A1 is currently showing at mag 12.

When I started looking for "Leonard" I initially found C/2017 W2 and thought well this is not very spectacular. Then I realized that maybe I was looking at the wrong Leonard.

[Jnicholes]

Yeah, I was just thinking, “Does he have the right comet?”

[ARock]

Some more links about C/2021 A1

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentia ... test-2022/
https://theskylive.com/cometleonard-info

[WilliamPaolini]

I understand that at its brightest the visual magnitude is around 22-23, so way too dim for any telescope. If you have a 100" telescope then maybe.

FYI, I was talking about our quasi-moon Kamo’oalewa, that the OP asked about and went unanswered, not the comet. I should have clarified that.

[turboscrew]

Does this "quasi-satellite" (Kamo’oalewa) mean that it wouldn't keep orbiting earth without "help" from the Sun?

[Jnicholes]

@turboscrew according to the article I read, it’s orbit depends on the suns gravity as well as the earths.

Anyway, skies look like they will be clear tonight, so I’m going to give the comet a shot at three tomorrow morning.

[turboscrew]

@turboscrew according to the article I read, it’s orbit depends on the suns gravity as well as the earths.

Anyway, skies look like they will be clear tonight, so I’m going to give the comet a shot at three tomorrow morning.

I wish thee luck, @Jnicholes !

[JayTee]

As of yesterday 11/13 comet C/2021 A1 Leonard was visually estimated at mag 8.5 so now you should be able to see it in 50mm binos under dark skies. But the moon (pure evilness) will make that a bit problematic.

http://astro.vanbuitenen.nl/comet/2021A1

[WilliamPaolini]

Does this "quasi-satellite" (Kamo’oalewa) mean that it wouldn't keep orbiting earth without "help" from the Sun?

I think they termed it a quasi-moon simply because it is not in a stable orbit around Earth and will depart from us astronomically soon (~300 years).

[Jnicholes]

Clouds rolled in last night at the time I was going to try to view Comet Leonard.

I’ll try again when it’s clear.

[WilliamPaolini]

...and speaking of our little quasi-moon Kamo’oalewa, a recent report states that it may actually be a fragment of our actual Moon!!

https://bgr.com/science/astronomers-dis ... -asteroid/

[Baurice]

I'm hoping to photograph Leonard next month but it won't be like NEOWISE that was amazing last year.

[Jnicholes]

I’m planning on trying to get a picture of the comet on the 19th, around 2 o’clock. A lunar eclipse will be happening at that time, so there won’t be much lunar light in the sky. I’ll get pictures of the lunar eclipse also, but once that’s done, I’m going to try and get a picture of the comet.

[Jnicholes]

I went out tonight, and got this beautiful picture of the Orion Nebula.

This photo is the attempt at the comet. As you can see the bigger “star” has some fuzz around it. I don’t think that’s a star. I think I captured the comet. However, I’m not sure. I can’t make out a tail.

Here’s a picture zoomed in.

Jared

[pakarinen]

C Leonard is predicted to be 6th mag tonight according to Sky & Tel. If the clouds clear, I plan on taking a look.

[Jnicholes]

C Leonard is predicted to be 6th mag tonight according to Sky & Tel. If the clouds clear, I plan on taking a look.

6 magnitude? I must’ve missed, then. I’ll try again another night.