Thursday, May 05, 2011

Comet Elenin Due for a Close Call With Earth


Comet Elenin is due to make it's closest approach later this year when it will pass within 22 million miles of Earth. Elenin will make it's closest approach to the Sun on 10 September 2011. On the 16 of October 2011, the comet will pass within 21,000,000 miles of the Earth.
From the Wiki:
  • The discoverer, Leonid Elenin, estimates that the comet nucleus is apx. 2.5 miles in diameter. As of April 2011, the comet is around magnitude 15 (roughly the brightness of Pluto), and the coma of the comet is estimated to be about 50,000 miles in diameter.
The graphic shows the path of the comet through the inner solar system.

Science daily article

4 comments:

Dave Tackett said...

Huzzah! Time to dust off my telescope. Comet Hyakutake was one of the coolest things I've seen through it. This one will only be 2 1/3 times further away.

Beam Me Up said...

What are you using for a scope Dave?

Dave Tackett said...

An old Orion 8" Dobsonian. Very similar to this but a less cool looking white scope.

Beam Me Up said...

nice! Haven't got anything even close. someday though! lol