Discovered in September 2012 the Comet ISON (named for the telescope that spotted it) may be “the comet of the century” in terms of its blazing brightness. If you don’t have access to a telescope, the University of Toledo Brooks Observatory will announce possible viewing times at utoledo.edu/nsm/rpbo/. Termed a sungrazer because it will pass very closely to the sun, it might be visible without a telescope November 26-28 just before dawn on the eastern horizon. Go to space.com for photos. Also on the 26th, there will be a close conjunction (when the celestial bodies appear close together) of Mercury and Saturn. Near dawn look for two bright points of light above the horizon when ISON should be visible just below them.
Dazzlers
Discovered in September 2012 the Comet ISON (named for the telescope that spotted it) may be “the comet of the century” in terms of its blazing brightness. If you don’t have access to a telescope, the University of Toledo Brooks Observatory will announce possible viewing times at utoledo.edu/nsm/rpbo/. Termed a sungrazer because it will pass very closely to the sun, it might be visible without a telescope November 26-28 just before dawn on the eastern horizon. Go to space.com for photos. Also on the 26th, there will be a close conjunction (when the celestial bodies appear close together) of Mercury and Saturn. Near dawn look for two bright points of light above the horizon when ISON should be visible just below them.
