In November 2013, skywatchers around the world eagerly awaited the approach of Comet ISON. Dubbed the "Comet of the Century" by several in the media, some astronomers had predicted a stupendous cometary display as Comet ISON approached its perihelion.
The
Just as we all accepted that the Comet ISON has most likely disintegrated under the high heat and gravitational stress of the Sun, amazing sungrazer came ALIVE, gaining more brightness. Thousands watched ISON's journey through the solar system and its unusual
Latest updates:
December 2, 2013
13:45 UTC
Comet ISON's November adventures video by Sun Whisperers
13:43 UTC
Latest CIOC update: In Memoriam: "…Never one to follow convention, ISON lived a dynamic and unpredictable life,
On November 28, 2013 at 18:44 UTC Comet ISON will reach its perihelion and fly by about 1.2 million km (730 000 miles) above the solar surface. Since space-based solar observatories will be recording its passage just follow the links and timetable below for
November 30, 2013
ISON is fading and exiting LASCO C3 view.
08:18 UTC
Comet ISON on November 30, 2013 @ 08:18. Image credit: ESA/NASA SOHO
05:30 UTC
Karl Battams (NRL/CIOC) wrote and update on ISON and embeded cool gifs from STEREO: In
The team at IRAM millimeter telescope, Spain, reported today that they see consistent rapid fading of ISON's molecular emission lines. The fading was recorded between November 21 and 25 by at least a factor of 20
Comet ISON will pass through the Sun's atmosphere at just about 1.2 million km (730 000 miles) above the solar surface on November 28, 2013 at 18:44 UTC.
It is now entering the fields of view of space-based solar observatories and will be viewed first
Comet ISON entered STEREO Ahead HI1 field of view. First image was taken at 21:34 UTC on November 20, 2013. Both STEREO spacecraft will have a view of the comet in the COR1 and COR2 coronagraphs in the hours around closest approach on November 28.
You can examine
Comet Encke will fly by Mercury within 0.025 AU (3.74 million km) on November 18, 2013 and only a day later, Comet ISON will pass it at 0.24 AU. This is a unique cosmic coincidence and NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, which is orbiting the planet,
Observers around the world are reporting that Comet ISON brightened sharply last night and is now at the threshold of naked-eye visibility. By some reports, ISON surged in brightness by approximately 2 magnitudes over last 24 hours and is now brighter than
