|
|
|
|
|
|
Comets 1998 T1 (LINEAR) and 1999 N2 (Lynn) are fading in our evening sky, but three other comets are visible in our instruments. We have been watching Comets Lee and Temple 2, now we can see the new Comet LINEAR (1999 J3). Discovered on May 12, it has left the polar region and entered our morning sky, brightening rapidly. Imagine my surprise when I recently swept it up while comet hunting, not knowing it would be so bright.
Only one new comet has been found, and this was by SOHO on August 5. No comets were found during the total solar eclipse of August 11.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMET HUNTING NOTES: The tilt of the comet's orbit, its inclination, is measured in degrees. A comet going in Earth's orbit has a 0-degree inclination, while one going in the opposite direction has a 180-degree inclination. An object traveling perpendicular to Earth's orbit (as does Comet Hale-Bopp) has an inclination of 90 degrees. The average inclination for the last 81 visually found comets is 84 degrees. A slight grouping of comets falls in the 40-50 degree range, and a dearth occurs near 100 degrees. I suspect this is a true picture of comet orbit distribution, since comet hunter sweeping patterns would not seem to favor (or disfavor) these particular inclinations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
