343 replies to this topic

[AstroDan2015]

Hi,

 

Here comes another sungrazer, if it survives the trip, it may become visible in broad daylight.     

More info here..... https://starwalk.spa.../comet-g3-atlas

Edited by AstroDan2015, 30 December 2024 - 10:04 AM.

[thedude_01]

I've heard it will only be visible in southern hemisphere? 

[AstroDan2015]

Hi,

 

If comet G3 ATLAS survives its orbit around the sun it should be visible in our southeast morning sky just before sunrise as viewed from low to mid-northern latitudes, on or just after January 13th. After mid-January the comet will then head south, moving away from our northern hemisphere's view.

Edited by AstroDan2015, 30 December 2024 - 02:44 PM.

[Pierre C]

I had a look for this comet visually at 5am yesterday from latitude 37 South in Australia.

 

It was supposed to be around 5 degrees above the horizon in the nautical twilight with a reported magnitude of 5.5. However, my southeastern horizon was not clear enough of trees to see it.

 

From here, it will continue to sink lower to the horizon each morning and more into the sun's glare as it gets closer to the sun. The term 'sungrazer' seems very appropriate for this one.

 

At perihelion on 13 January, I understand it will be around 5 degrees from the sun. So, even if it is very bright, it may be difficult and dangerous to view without specialized equipment. (Routine warning - do not look directly at the sun).

 

From 13 January, it will start its climb into the low western evening sky in the southern hemisphere. However, with the light of the setting sun, I think people may need to wait at least a few days before they have a chance of seeing it visually from the southern hemisphere.

 

People with access to specialized equipment and clearer horizons may have better views.

 

Interesting articles:

• https://starwalk.spa.../comet-g3-atlas
• https://skyandtelesc...google_vignette
• https://britastro.or...c-2024-g3-atlas

Position and brightness data:

• https://theskylive.com/c2024g3-info

Edited by Pierre C, 31 December 2024 - 07:48 PM.

[Pierre C]

Some more interesting articles:

• https://www.space.co...atlas-c-2024-g3
• https://earthsky.org...ern-hemisphere/

Comet Observation Database (COBS) position and brightness data:

• https://cobs.si/comet/2525/

[Dave Mitsky]

C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) will reach perihelion on January 13 2025, when it will pass within 0.1 AU of the sun. Update January 6: This comet has brightened significantly. While we are still not predicting it to be visible to the naked eye, it will be an obvious binocular object before perihelion. There is a chance it will not survive perihelion, so observers are encouraged to view it beforehand. We predict that it will be obvious through 7x50 binoculars from mid-northern latitudes, despite the very bright dawn twilight. A very clear view of the eastern horizon will be necessary.

C/2024 G3 (ATLAS): A morning comet visible in binoculars

This comet begins the month in Scorpius at magnitude 3.8. Look for a 2' coma, condensation is like a star that cannot be focused; strongly condensed. This comet has brightened significantly. While we are still not predicting it to be visible to the naked eye, it will be an obvious binocular object before perihelion. There is a chance it will not survive perihelion, so observers are encouraged to view it beforehand. We predict that it will be obvious through 7x50 binoculars from mid-northern latitudes, despite the very bright dawn twilight. A very clear view of the eastern horizon will be necessary.

https://www.cometchasing.skyhound.com/

[Dave Mitsky]

https://www.planetar...-comet-c2024-g3

[AstroDan2015]

Hi, 

 

https://theskylive.com/c2024g3-info Here is the best sight I have found on the internet for current minute by minute information on comet G3 ATLAS. Please scroll down to the bottom of this site's page, where it says, 'Orbit Visualization', at the bottom of this orbiting image view where it says in gold lettering... 3D Solar System Simulator, press that. When the next orbiting image pops up, hold your left click button and move the mouse, watch what happens! US observers should now be able to see it rise in the SE, about 40 minutes before sunrise, located some 3* below and 8* to the left of Mercury, the comet is quickly approaching Mercury's current brightness of - 0.40 magnitude. I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow morning, January 9th. 

 

 Good luck and may the force be with you, Dan 

Edited by AstroDan2015, 09 January 2025 - 01:02 PM.

[DrWFV]

Hi, 

 

I am a beginner with very beginner equipment (Celestron FirstScope and iPhone for eyepiece photographing), but I wouldn't let this opportunity go without trying. 

 

At sunset on 14 January the comet would be 6° over the Horizon, too low for anything even if it will be very bright ? 

it will be 5-7 degree over the Sun, to risky to try something prior of sunset ? 

This is the view foreseen by the site you give above:

 

If I have some hill on the Horizon, the view will be the same but some minutes earlier, right ? This can be worst for the sky radiance ?

 

Unfortunately the weather will not allow me to make some practice as it seems it will be cloudy until the 14 of january. 

[AstroDan2015]

The comet's observed magnitude is now 0.00, this is about 2.5 magnitudes brighter than the JPL prediction. It may be visible now in the SE morning sky about a half hour before sunrise, I'm going to look for it tomorrow morning using binoculars. This sungrazing comet might not make it to the evening sky.

[cecu]

Usual luck, in my location (Australia) we have at least the next 7 days of rain forecasted..

[AstroDan2015]

Hi everyone,

 

I just came in from looking for comet G3 ATLAS in the clear southeast morning sky. I used my Celestron SkyMaster 15X70mm binoculars and could easily observe the planet Mercury shinning a few degrees above the SE horizon at about 40 minutes before sunrise. I scanned left of it 8 degrees and then down 3 degrees and kept observing for 15 more minutes. I saw no tail, no coma and no sign of G3's nucleus. I hope our southern hemisphere observers have a good showing in their evening skies in the coming days and weeks.

 

Good luck, Dan 

Edited by AstroDan2015, 09 January 2025 - 10:31 AM.

[Kiwi Paul]

I’m ready Dan.
Cheers Paul

[AstroDan2015]

Hi Paul,

 

I hope it survives the sun encounter and puts on a spectacular show for you in New Zealand!

 

Happy New Year, Dan 

[Anthony236J]

I also had no luck catching it this morning from 45 deg. N using 8x42 binoculars, though Mercury was easily seen. On the plus side, it was a beautiful sunrise. I, too, hope it survives the close pass of the Sun.

[RMay]

Ummmmm… maybe? Low in the east, 6:50am, which given our low eastern horizon might place it in the right location for that time; no naked eye or binocular visibility. Saw this (it?) while analyzing images taken.

 

Comments and complaints welcome.

 

Ron

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[CharLakeAstro]

That's awesome

 

Ummmmm… maybe? Low in the east, 6:50am, which given our low eastern horizon might place it in the right location for that time; no naked eye or binocular visibility. Saw this (it?) while analyzing images taken.

 

Comments and complaints welcome.

 

Ron

[RMay]

After reviews and photographs taken this morning, I believe what I caught yesterday was Mercury, and not the comet.

 

Here’s another image taken this morning.

 

Ron

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Edited by RMay, 11 January 2025 - 10:41 AM.

[Pete W]

This morning, Sat. Jan. 11, a group from our local astro club spotted Comet ATLAS in binoculars from Granger Lake, TX, just before 7:00am when it was approximately 1 to1.5 deg above the horizon.  Not easy against the orange glow of twilight, but definite and it exhibited a short tail.  Could not see it naked eye.   By about 7:15 or so, we could no longer locate it in binoculars.  

[AstroDan2015]

Congratulations on viewing comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) this morning using binoculars. Observation reports are showing G3 is now at magnitude -3, and it may continue brightening to -4 or -5 as it rounds the sun.

Edited by AstroDan2015, 11 January 2025 - 11:24 AM.

[Bob_Gardner]

I believe the comet is beginning to appear in the LASCO C3 sensor on SOHO.

https://soho.nascom....ealtime/c3/512/

 

 

Note: Spaceweather.com says that the SOHO feed was off the air for 2 days due to the Eaton Wildfire in LA that is threatening JPL.  They have apparently shifted the feed over to another host. Based on what I'm seeing, both JPL and Mount Wilson are in imminent danger.

Edited by Bob_Gardner, 11 January 2025 - 11:55 AM.

[Octans]

The comet is currently around magnitude -1 and looks on track to peak at about -2 to -3 absent any outbursts. It has an extremely condensed coma however, so it'll be far easier to spot than a more diffuse comet of that magnitude (e.g., C/2023 A3). It might become naked eye visible in daylight at its best for experienced observers under excellent sky conditions, but it won't become an obvious one like C/McNaught was, again, barring any future outbursts. But given it's had one just last week, another outburst in the next few days is quite possible, which could make it quite a bit more prominent.

[AstroDan2015]

Here is comet G3 taken (31 hours) after Bob's LASCO C3 above posted image. It's moving fast and brightening.

 

 

Click this site for the latest Comet G3 .gif/movie https://soho.nascom..../current_c3.gif

Edited by AstroDan2015, 12 January 2025 - 06:16 PM.

[RMay]

Thanks to Pierre C for re-processing my image to definitively show that what I was looking at was Mercury, and not the comet (with what looks like a sun spike).

 

I thought it would be interesting and worthwhile to share.

 

Ron

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[DouglasPaul]

I tried from Quartzsite Arizona this morning, but by the time it cleared the horizon according to Stellarium I could no longer find Mercury with a pair of bino's and no trace of the comet.