C/2012 S1 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

C/2012 S1 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

 "C/2012 S1 (ISON) is a comet discovered on 21 September 2012 by Vitali Nevski (Vitebsk, Belarus) and Artyom Novichonok (Kondopoga, Russia). The discovery was made using the 0.4-m reflector of the International Scientific Optical Network near Kislovodsk, Russia.[1] Precovery images by the Mount Lemmon Survey from 28 December 2011 and by Pan-STARRS from 28 January 2012 were quickly found,[2] and follow-up observations were made on 22 September by a team from Remanzacco Observatory in Italy using the iTelescope network.[1][3] The discovery was announced by the Minor Planet Center on 24 September, three days after its discovery.[4]"

"At the time of its discovery, the comet's magnitude was 18.8, far too dim to be seen with the naked eye but bright enough to be photographed by amateurs with large telescopes.^[7][8] It will gradually increase in brightness as it approaches. By late summer 2013 it should be visible through small telescopes or binoculars, becoming visible to the naked eye by late October or early November and remaining so until mid-January 2014.^[8][5] When the comet reaches its perihelion on 28 November it will be 4.4° from the Sun, making it difficult to see against the glare of the star. The comet may become extremely bright if it remains intact, possibly reaching a negative magnitude.^[3]According to Astronomy Now, it may become brighter than the full Moon.^[4][5] Comets that pass so close to the Sun can be unpredictable. Comet Kohoutek and C/1999 S4 did not meet expectations, but if ISON survives it could look similar to the Great Comet of 2007 or Lovejoy.^[3]"

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