2013 Comet ISON: 'Comet of the Century' to Shine Brightly by End of October, Amateur Astronomers Share Captured Images of Comet ISON [PHOTOS]
Scientists and amateur astronomers expect the fast approaching 2013 Comet ISON to shine brightly and become visible through telescopes by the end of October which refutes initial reports regarding the fizzling out of the "Comet of the Century". The amateur astronomers were able to spot and capture images of the approaching comet with the use of professional telescope lenses.
The amateur astronomy club called Jyotirvidya Parisanstha (JVP) began a photographic tracking of Comet ISON with other astronomy clubs setting up workshops, awareness campaigns and even star parties to observe the much anticipated space phenomenon in 2013.
Arvind Paranjpye, director of the Nehru Planetarium, shared: "With its present positioning, it seems that the comet will be bright and visible towards the end of October. Having crossed Mars in the beginning of the month, the comet will start getting visible over the eastern horizon around October 30 and one can spot it through the telescope about 40 minutes before sunrise. As it progresses, the comet will be visible through binoculars between November 4 and November 9 and later, around November 19, it will be visible to the naked eye."
Aniruddha Deshpande, a member of JVP, stated that the closest approach of the 2013 Comet ISON to the Sun in late November will be the brightest. He explained: "But it will likely be too close to the sun to be seen. It is quite possible that the comet will not survive this proximity to the sun. It may even disappear in the weeks beforehand, so we urge those who want to see it to have a look in November itself. If the comet survives, it should remain visible through binoculars and may just be visible to the unaided eye in the second week of December."
The amateur astronomers continue to work and observe on the celestial body making a close approach to the Sun and planet Earth even in backyards or open spaces from around the world with telescopes as their equipment in viewing the Comet ISON's approach.
Martin Gembec captured an image for Spaceweather.com that comes from the Czech Republic before daybreak on Monday, Oct. 14. The image shows a bluish trail of the Comet ISON just above Mars.
According to the WTVR.com report, sky gazers who wish to locate Comet ISON must have a telescope and look at the east side before dawn to view the "double star" of red planet Mars and the blue-white star Regulus. The report further states: "They rise about three hours before the sun, forming a bright pair separated by one degree."
On November 28, the Comet ISON can be easily spotted with the naked eye as well as the first week of December when it will be at its peak before making a close approach to Earth on December 26.