New Comet Alert: Comet C/2020 F8 (Swan)

[kt4hx]

Just found out about this comet this evening. It is currently in Pisces Austrinus. Below are some links for you. Certainly bears watching to see how it develops.

http://astro.vanbuitenen.nl/comet/2020F8
http://www.portaltotheuniverse.org/blog ... ew/723987/
https://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2020/04 ... -swan.html
https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K20/K20G94.html

[Graeme1858]

Thanks Alan

2.8 mag should be a good view.

A bit tricky for a Northerner. I hope you get a good look and tell us all about it.

Regards

Graeme

[notFritzArgelander]

Thanks Alan

2.8 mag should be a good view.

A bit tricky for a Northerner. I hope you get a good look and tell us all about it.

Regards

Graeme

Note that at closest approach at magnitude 2.8 it will be an equal opportunity comet slightly favoring us northerners!

[Graeme1858]

Note that at closest approach at magnitude 2.8 it will be an equal opportunity comet slightly favoring us northerners!

I must have put the RA and Dec into Stellarium incorrectly! It's early here and I'm still on my first coffee!

Regards

Graeme

[notFritzArgelander]

Note that at closest approach at magnitude 2.8 it will be an equal opportunity comet slightly favoring us northerners!

I must have put the RA and Dec into Stellarium incorrectly! It's early here and I'm still on my first coffee!

Regards

Graeme

t could be too late in the day for me to see straight too. I thought I saw +16 in dec at mag 2.8. I think it's time for scotch, chocolate, and nepenthe.

[Graeme1858]

t could be too late in the day for me to see straight too. I thought I saw +16 in dec at mag 2.8. I think it's time for scotch, chocolate, and nepenthe.

Would that be the planet Nepenthe?

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Nepenthe_(episode)

Sorry, I'll go and make more coffee!

Regards

Graeme

[notFritzArgelander]

t could be too late in the day for me to see straight too. I thought I saw +16 in dec at mag 2.8. I think it's time for scotch, chocolate, and nepenthe.

Would that be the planet Nepenthe?

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Nepenthe_(episode)

Sorry, I'll go and make more coffee!

Regards

Graeme

Ha! You got me. And I apparently have not made it to bed yet! I was thinking of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" where in stanza 14 is found....

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

[AntennaGuy]

Sky & Telescope says "Comet SWAN Expected to Put on a Splendid Show"
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-n ... ndid-show/

[Graeme1858]

That's a huge long tail!

[Unitron48]

Has anyone observed this comet? Looks impressive from the images.

Dave

[sdbodin]

Not yet, but I'm getting my old CG4 mount setup with a guide scope and a camera mount, should be good at my latitude in about a week in the evening sky near Capella at dusk. I'm guessing that my ASI1600MC and a 135mm telephoto will cover it nicely, but if that tail grows, I'll need to find a shorter lens.

Wishing for clear skies,
Steve

[helicon]

I have not yet. But it's probably behind the trees by now.

[GCoyote]

Not yet, but I'm getting my old CG4 mount setup with a guide scope and a camera mount, should be good at my latitude in about a week in the evening sky near Capella at dusk. I'm guessing that my ASI1600MC and a 135mm telephoto will cover it nicely, but if that tail grows, I'll need to find a shorter lens.

Wishing for clear skies,
Steve

Any luck?

[sdbodin]

Any luck?

Nope, this one must have evaporated too. Searched for it with 11x70s and found nothing, should have been nicely positioned in my NW sky. Haven't seen any mention on other sites either. But, there is another coming, can't remember exactly when, maybe mid July.

Steve

[GCoyote]

Good hunting!