Simcoe Skies Astronomy

Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann

Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann
The likely last time around for this comet

Magnitude: Varies - 8.0
Location: Varies - Hercules
Distance: 0.1252 AU from Earth
Date: Apr 29/06
Exposures: 125 / 200 / 200
Exposure length: 6s / 5s / 2.5s
Amp on setting: OFF
Brightness: 72 / 64 / 100
Gamma: 52 / 52 / 52
Gain: 54 / 48 / 49
K3 L-Meter: 234 / 197 / 234
Filters: IR filter

Notes: This comet is likely in its final death throes, and is fragmenting more as it approaches the sun. It reaches its closest approach to earth on May 12/13, at which time it is expected to be significantly brighter and the tail should be better defined.

Watch The Video!

This short AVI video shows the comet's relative movement against background stars at 100x actual speed.

May 3 Image
Image from May 3rd/06

Location: Varies - Hercules
Distance: 0.1063 AU from Earth
Date: May 3/06
Exposures: 10
Exposure length: 20s
Amp on setting: OFF
Brightness: 65
Gamma: 52
Gain: 40
K3 L-Meter: 236
Filters: IR filter
Color settings: R37;B29

Notes: Much the same as the above, but this is a stack of 10, 20-second images from 4 nights later.

May 7 Image
Image from May 7th/06

Location: Varies - Lyra
Distance: 0.0903 AU from Earth
Date: May 7/06
Exposures: 100
Exposure length: 6s
Amp on setting: OFF
Brightness: 95
Gamma: 52
Gain: 49
K3 L-Meter: 240
Filters: IR filter
Color settings: R41;B18

Notes: Tail seems more pronounced and drawn out.

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	Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann The likely last time around for this comet Magnitude: Varies - 8.0 Location: Varies - Hercules Distance: 0.1252 AU from Earth Date: Apr 29/06 Exposures: 125 / 200 / 200 Exposure length: 6s / 5s / 2.5s Amp on setting: OFF Brightness: 72 / 64 / 100 Gamma: 52 / 52 / 52 Gain: 54 / 48 / 49 K3 L-Meter: 234 / 197 / 234 Filters: IR filter Notes: This comet is likely in its final death throes, and is fragmenting more as it approaches the sun. It reaches its closest approach to earth on May 12/13, at which time it is expected to be significantly brighter and the tail should be better defined. Watch The Video! This short AVI video shows the comet's relative movement against background stars at 100x actual speed.

	Image from May 3rd/06 Location: Varies - Hercules Distance: 0.1063 AU from Earth Date: May 3/06 Exposures: 10 Exposure length: 20s Amp on setting: OFF Brightness: 65 Gamma: 52 Gain: 40 K3 L-Meter: 236 Filters: IR filter Color settings: R37;B29 Notes: Much the same as the above, but this is a stack of 10, 20-second images from 4 nights later.

	Image from May 7th/06 Location: Varies - Lyra Distance: 0.0903 AU from Earth Date: May 7/06 Exposures: 100 Exposure length: 6s Amp on setting: OFF Brightness: 95 Gamma: 52 Gain: 49 K3 L-Meter: 240 Filters: IR filter Color settings: R41;B18 Notes: Tail seems more pronounced and drawn out.