'Comet of the Century': Comet ISON Stars in Mother's Day Webcast Today

[Buster's Uncle]

'Comet of the Century': Comet ISON Stars in Mother's Day Webcast Today
By Tariq Malik | SPACE.com – 1 hr 11 mins ago...

From now through October, comet ISON tracks through the constellations Gemini, Cancer and Leo as it falls toward the sun. Image released March 29, 2013.


Comet ISON is shown in this NASA handout provided April 23, 2013 and photographed by the Hubble telescope on April 10, 2013 when the comet was slightly closer than Jupiter's orbit at a distance of 386 million miles from the Sun (394 million miles from Earth). Comet ISON is potentially the "comet of the century" because around the time the comet makes its closest approach to the Sun, on November 28, it may briefly become brighter than the full Moon according to NASA. REUTERS/NASA Hubble telescope/Handout

 
An incoming comet that some scientists say could potentially become the "comet of the century" later this year has captivated skywatchers around the world, and you can see live views of the comet today (May 12) in a Mother's Day webcast.

Comet ISON, first discovered in September 2012, is expected to be at its best and brightest in late November, but the online skywatching website Slooh Space Camera will offer live views of the comet in a 30-minute webcast beginning at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT).

You can watch the Mother's Day Comet ISON webcast live on SPACE.com, courtesy of Slooh Space Camera.

The Slooh Space Camera, like SPACE.com, NASA and scientists around the world, has been tracking Comet ISON's progress as it makes its way into the inner solar system. Today's webcast is Slooh's third update on ISON in as many months.


As of mid-April, the comet was inside the orbit of Jupiter and closing on the sun. On April 10, the Hubble Space Telescope snapped photos of Comet ISON as when it was 386 million miles (621 million kilometers) from the sun and 394 million miles (634 million kilometers) from Earth.

Comet ISON has scientists buzzing because it could become one of the brightest comets in decades when it swings close by the sun on Nov. 28. During that close encounter, the comet will be just 730,000 miles (1.2 million km) from the sun's surface.

During today's webcast, Slooh officials will provide live views of Comet ISON using remotely operated telescopes in the Canary Islands, off the west coast of Africa. Slooh producer Paul Cox will host the webcast and will be joined by senior space scientist Padma Yanamandra-Fisher of the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo., who is helping coordinate NASA's Comet ISON Observing Campaign to track the icy wanderer.

You can also follow the Slooh webcast directly using Slooh's iPad app or the Slooh website: http://www.slooh.com.



Comet ISON was first spotted by Russian amateur astronomers Artyom Novichonok and Vitali Nevski and is officially known as comet C/2012 S1 (ISON). Its nucleus is estimated to be about 3 miles (5 km) across and as of April the comet's dusty tail was an amazing 57,000 miles (92,000 km) long.

Comet ISON is not the only celestial treat in the sky for Mother's Day. Tonight, Jupiter will appear near the moon for skywatchers with clear weather.

Jupiter will appear as a bright light to the right of a slender crescent moon in the northwest night sky during the early evening hours. The moon is just three days past its "new" phase, so will be only 8 percent illuminated. Jupiter will be about 5 degrees to the right of the moon (your closed fist held at arm's length covers about 10 degrees of the night sky).

You can learn more on how to see Jupiter and the moon on Mother's Day here.

[Unorthodox]

Lesseee....

Going through Leo in October....

IF it's even visible on the horizon here, it would be in the wee hours of the morning.   Would have been nifty to have a comet overhead on Halloween night. 

November, we have a much better chance at viewing here.  But still would be rising at ~4 AM if the website I pulled constellation info from is correct. 

I've never managed to see a comet, so would hope we can this time. 

Maybe we should take a trip down to Bridges in November. 

[Buster's Uncle]

How did you miss the 97 comet?  I was in the desert outside Phoenix doing a renfare, and it was really something.

[Unorthodox]

'97 I was working 2 jobs putting the boss through school.  Didn't have much time for anything not work or sleep. 

[Unorthodox]

Silly personal fact about the '97 comet. 

Former location I was cleaning out, oh, probably in 2004.  The office had the book of teachings from the Heaven's Gate folks in one of the desks.  I've read a lot of crazy beliefs over the years, that book was special.  The previous owner had moved to California in her belief, but was not among those who were beamed up to the UFO following that comet.