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Re: (meteorobs) P/Encke in outburst? No!
On Fri, Nov 21, 2003 at 11:24:14AM -0500, JBortle@aol.com wrote:
> Please be advised that 2P/Encke is not undergoing any sort of photometric
> outburst at this time. Its current brightness is fully within expectations
> for the current date. Most observers have been encountering considerable
> difficulty in spotting this object up until now simply for want of dark
> enough skies. At the present time the comet's coma subtends between 12'-20'
> (depending of the observer reporting). With its integrated magnitude of
> around 7.3 at present this makes for an object with a very low surface
> brightness and thus its visibility/size/apparent magnitude is very sensitive
> to the brightness of the sky background.
OK. Thanks John! I was using an ephemeris that quoted 2P/Encke as being 8th
magnitude now.
> Most unfortunately, articles published earlier this year in various
> magazines and websites regarding the comet's current apparition failed to
> take into account that the coma would appear huge and bloated (and therefore
> seem very faint) because of its proximity to Earth in October and November.
> The lack of experience in observing comets on the part of these various
> author's is now all too clear.
> John Bortle
I stand corrected!
GWG
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