C/2021 A1 (Leonard) Predicted to Reach Naked Eye Visibility

[PMSchu]

This comet is predicted to reach naked eye visibility in the next few weeks. Here's the OI from ST4V: [attachment=2128]

Good hunting,

Phil S.

[ledge1962]

It doesn't look like it is visible from New Zealand. Either that, or I have done something wrong.
That's a shame.

[obrazell]

I think you must have something set wrong then as we northern observers lose it after mid December and it shows up in the south if I set my location to Christchurch. I doubt it will reach naked eye the way it is going as comets are rather more unpredictable in their magnitudes. It is also very low for northern observers.

[theskyhound]

Comet resources:

1. My Comet Chasing page (will be updated on Dec 1)
https://comets.skyhound.com/

2. Select the Current Comets list in the Nightly Planner
Use this tool to determine the visibility of the available comets for your location in a specific night

3. Double-click in a list or use the Designation Search tool to look up "2021 A1" and open the Object Info. The Synopsis tab is particularly useful.

4. Ephemeris tab: select the Nightly Observing Ephemeris, enter the comet, your location, starting now, for a month
This will show you the best nights of visibility during the month on a daily basis

[PMSchu]

Hi Greg,

I just checked your Comet Chasing web page. It looks like I might have been too optimistic about the visibility of this comet. ST4v thinks it will reach 3.5 magnitude in a few days. Guess we'll see.

Some of the iTelescope folks have been getting images of it. It would be cool to capture an image as it passes M3.

I hope the weather holds up for everyone.

Phil S.

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José Chambó's website has a great writeup about the discovery of C/2021 A1 (Leonard) here: Comets visible in November 2021 - Cometography (cometografia.es)

José has taken over for Gary W. Kronk's Cometography website. It looks like a great source of comet information.

Phil S.

[ledge1962]

I think you must have something set wrong then as we northern observers lose it after mid December and it shows up in the south if I set my location to Christchurch. I doubt it will reach naked eye the way it is going as comets are rather more unpredictable in their magnitudes. It is also very low for northern observers.

Thanks Owen. I had not put my date out far enough.

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Thanks Greg

I was (embarrassingly) not aware of that Comets page. it is now in my favorites.

[bigmasterdrago]

Hi Greg,

I just checked your Comet Chasing web page. It looks like I might have been too optimistic about the visibility of this comet. ST4v thinks it will reach 3.5 magnitude in a few days. Guess we'll see.

Some of the iTelescope folks have been getting images of it. It would be cool to capture an image as it passes M3.

I hope the weather holds up for everyone.

Phil S.

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Check Damian Peach's image http://www.damianpeach.com/deepsky/c2021...03isdp.jpg

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Or Dan Bartlett's https://www.astrobin.com/yo7j4k/0/

[ledge1962]

Thanks Phil. Those pics are inspiring. Makes me want to buy a camera...

[PMSchu]

Hi BMD,

Thanks for the links to those teriffic photos. Have you been able to see it?

Phil S.

[bigmasterdrago]

Phil, I've been out of state 2+ weeks. Had cirrus b4 I left. Back now but Texas is under a blanket until a couple more days. I've not been able to snag a look and it is only up ~23° in the NE at the beginning of astronomical twilight. Only a bit of light pollution there.