APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

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APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by APOD Robot » Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:07 am

Image Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger

Explanation: Sweeping through planet Earth's night sky, last weekend Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1) visited this lovely star field along the Milky Way in the constellation Vulpecula. Suggestively oriented, the colorful skyscape features stars in the asterism known as the Coat Hanger with the comet's tail pointing toward the southeast. Also known as Al Sufi's Cluster, the Coat Hanger itself is likely just a chance alignment and not a cluster of related stars. But compact open star cluster NGC 6802 does grace the field of view just right of the Coat Hanger, near the edge of the frame. Below naked eye visibility but approaching 7th magnitude in brightness, Comet Garradd has been a good target for binoculars and small telescopes. Still, bright moonlit skies this week will make the comet harder to spot.

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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by Beyond » Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:10 am

So... Comet Garradd is still 'hanging' around. I hope it doesn't get 'hung' up.
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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by Ann » Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:35 am

That's a very beautiful image! It is by master astrophotographer Rogelio Bernal Andreo, too! :D :D :D :D :D

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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by mexhunter » Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:32 am

Congratulations Rogelio, is a very interesting picture, and it's great this new APOD.
Greetings.
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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by orin stepanek » Fri Sep 09, 2011 12:13 pm

Very nice! 8-) Gonna make a nice background. :D
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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by Mikey » Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:43 pm

Does the comet have multiple heads or are those background stars that just make it look that way?

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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by Chris Peterson » Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:57 pm

Mikey wrote:Does the comet have multiple heads or are those background stars that just make it look that way?
Once a comet becomes active (that is, it has a coma), the nucleus is invisible- completely hidden by evaporating gas and dust. So every point source you see in an image like this is a background star. The comet has only a single head.
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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by Joe Stieber » Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:02 pm

The APOD text refers to the time of the image vaguely as "last weekend," but typical of a comet, C/2009 P1 (Garradd) is moving somewhat quickly with respect to the background stars, so it's in a noticeably different position every night (in a telescope, the motion can be detected in less than an hour). I was observing the comet last weekend and this nice view is familiar. It looks like the picture was taken on Friday evening, September 2, 2011, probably around 10:00 pm PDT (or 05:00 UT on September 3).

RBAF

Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by RBAF » Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:17 pm

Joe Stieber wrote:It looks like the picture was taken on Friday evening, September 2, 2011, probably around 10:00 pm PDT (or 05:00 UT on September 3).
Correct! Friday, September 2nd, between 9:45pm (PDT) and 12:22am

Cheers!
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PS: Ann, I'm your #1 fan :D

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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by Ann » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:26 pm

Rogelio Bernal Andreo wrote:
Ann, I'm your #1 fan :D
Thanks a million, Rogelio, but I think it's the other way round! :D

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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by saturn2 » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:19 pm

The Comet Garradd has many colors.
The stars of the Al Sulfi´s Cluster look like a line.
It´s a handsome image.

islader2

Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by islader2 » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:40 pm

@ ANN {without an "e"} Golly, Ann, Rogelio wrote that he is your number one fan. For a long time, I thought I occupied that spot. Anywho==I will settle for #2. Thanx. :D :D :D













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Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by islader2 » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:50 pm

@ ROGELIO For the position of Ann' #1 fan, I challenge you to a duel with light sabers from Walmart. Bring your camera==your pix are superb. :evil: :evil: :evil:

RBAF

Re: APOD: Comet Garradd and the Coat Hanger (2011 Sep 09)

Post by RBAF » Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:34 am

islader2 wrote:@ ROGELIO For the position of Ann' #1 fan, I challenge you to a duel with light sabers from Walmart. Bring your camera==your pix are superb. :evil: :evil: :evil:
If I accepted and you beat me, you'd prove you're better at Walmat's saber light duels, not a bigger fan :mrgreen:
I'd just stick to do the fan thing :wink:

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