The comet we have been waiting for is finally nearing its expected peak , when, in our morning sky, faint but brightening Comet ISON could reach naked-eye visibility. Although our best views will come in November and December, the comet should, by the end of October be within the range of binoculars and small telescopes. ISON will be in the eastern pre-dawn sky gliding almost parallel with ruddy Mars, which is currently rising around 3 am. Mars, by the way, is at magnitude +1.6 and one October 14th will appear very close to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo around 5 am. The two will be nearly the same in brightness but easy to distinguish because Mars is red while Regulus is a blue-white color.
Meanwhile, back to Comet ISON. Mars will be moving in its orbit around the Sun appearing to track eastward (from right to left), while during the first half of October the Comet will appear to move with it. The Comet will be just two degrees above Mars on October 1st, and only one degree above it on October 15th. During this time, small telescopes will be needed to see it. Even then, it will not look very comet-like. It will instead look like a fuzzy patch of light, as we are seeing it halfway between edge-on and broadside at his time. The middle of the fuzzy mass should be brighter and sharper in the small telescope view, but remember, we are pushing things a bit in our eagerness for this comet to get here. It is only a bit possible that it will be at naked-eye visibility by the end of October. But it is worth taking a look — I will be watching!
Venus still dazzles low in the southwestern sky after sunset throughout October and will command a lot of our attention because of its brightness (-4.4 magnitude). Venus appears to move from Libra into Scorpius on October 7th, and on that evening the waxing crescent Moon will be about 8 degrees the right of Venus. On October 8th, the Moon will be to Venus’s upper left, about 7 degrees. Also Saturn, though much fainter than Venus, may be seen on the nights of October 8th just 5 degrees above Venus.
Jupiter joins the eastern sky around midnight and is therefore, well-up and easily visible before dawn throughout the month of October. Jupiter is at –2.3 magnitude among the stars of Gemini the twins, about 10 degrees below and right of Pollux, Gemini’s brightest star on October 1st.
I will update you on Comet ISON for November’s column when we should be right on the verge of seeing the best comet in 100 years, or one that may be good, but not spectacular. I am hoping for the former.
Moon phase this month include: Full on the 18th; 1st quarter on the 11th, and Last quarter on the 26th.
Dark skies!
Celeste Conn, VMD says
Editor,
How can you not love Dennis’ columns? He keeps us up to date about what’s happening in our gorgeous night skies. We are so fortunate to have dark skies which enable us to see the beauty of the heavens. Keep it up, Dennis. We love ya!