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(meteorobs) Re: {MPML} comet LINEAR 2001 A2 outburst
It's interesting to compare this comet with other intrinsically
faint long-period comets. In the latest issue of my
newsletter "Comet Tales", I compared C/2001 A2 with
C/1993 Y1 (McNaught-Russell) and C/1999 J3 (LINEAR),
which both "turned on" prior to perihelion inside Earth's
orbit.
A month ago, I was speculating on something around
6th magnitude, but will gladly enjoy something brighter :)
Cernis reported an estimate of 6.8 shortly after Michael's.
If the last 48 hours isn't a temporary outburst, May/June
is looking very good.
Regards,
Greg Bryant
Michael Mattiazzo wrote:
> My observation of comet LINEAR 2001 A2 last night:
>
> 2001 Mar 30.52 UT: m1=8.0,Dia=3.0',DC=4/...25x100mm binoculars
>
> The comet has undergone a significant outburst, over 2.5 magnitudes in a
> 24hr period along with an increase in degree of condensation.
> Northern hemisphere observers should rush out to observe this comet during
> April as it heads southward and will only be observed from the southern
> hemisphere until the second half of June where the comet swings by Earth at
> 0.24 AU on June 30th. This current brightness would suggest naked eye
> visibility.
>
> Cheers,
> Michael Mattiazzo
> Wallaroo, South Aust
> mmatti@yp-connectdot net
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