Current Comets Update April 16

[theskyhound]

Hello everyone,

There is a lot going on with comets this month, requiring a mid-month current comets list update.  

Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) has fragmented, which means it has become fainter and is not likely to become the bright comet that we had hoped for.

I have added 2020 F8 (SWAN) to the list.

The MPC is having trouble keeping their comet database op to date, so I have updated orbits via orbital elements as needed via JPL data.

[wvreeven]

Thanks very much for this Greg. This morning I tried to observe C/2020 F8 Swan from my backyard in Chile using my binoculars. I am sure I saw the m=7.8 star right next to it but the comet unfortunately was too faint. I'll try again soon with my 12" dob.


Clear skies, Wouter

[theskyhound]

Let us know if you spot it!

[wvreeven]

I finally manage to see this comet. It was very low in the sky still but easily visible as a round glow with my binoculars. When I defocused my binoculars so the stars were about the same size as the coma, I estimated it to be slightly brighter than the star HD 223884 so the comet must have been m=6.0 or 6.1


Wouter

[wvreeven]

I managed to observe comet Swan again today around 05:45 local time = 09:45 UTC. I estimated the comet to be slightly brighter than HD 1084, which has m=5.76, so comet Swan was around m=5.6. From what I get from other forums, it seems that this comet is not brightening as much as models predict.

Wouter

[theskyhound]

Awesome. I hope to have a shot at it soon. Unfortunately I have poorer visibility for the eastern horizon, so I will have to drive a bit to get to a good place to see it.