APOD: Comet Lovejoy Before Galaxy M63 (2013 Dec 02)

[APOD Robot]

Comet Lovejoy Before Galaxy M63

Explanation: Comet Lovejoy was captured last week passing well in front of spiral galaxy M63. Discovered only three months ago and currently near its maximum brightness, Comet Lovejoy can be seen near the Big Dipper from dark northerly locations before dawn with the unaided eye. An unexpected rival to Comet ISON, C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy), pictured above, is currently sporting a large green coma and a beautifully textured ion tail. Comet Lovejoy is now headed back to the outer Solar System but should remain a good sight in binoculars for another few weeks. Conversely, spiral galaxy M63, lies far in the distance and is expected to remain stationary on the sky and hold its relative brightness for at least the next few million years.

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[Ann]

The comet that lived - the Harry Potter comet!

Nice picture, too.

Ann

[henryphoobar]

Yes indeed, Bootes and Hercules are ... good sites.

[garyadels]

The Lovejoy post says, "should remain a good site in binoculars for another few weeks". Proper grammar is "good sight", as in seeing with one's eyes, not "good site" as in location.

[neufer]

The Lovejoy post says, "should remain a good site in binoculars for another few weeks". Proper grammar is "good sight", as in seeing with one's eyes, not "good site" as in location.

Just an oversite, I'm sure.

[Beyond]

Well, where ever it is, is the comets 'site' and you can't see it anywhere but there, at it's current site, so IF you can see it, it's a good 'site' to see. And it's a might better site than you'll get with comet ISON, which seems to have lost all site ability.

[Chris Peterson]

The Lovejoy post says, "should remain a good site in binoculars for another few weeks". Proper grammar is "good sight", as in seeing with one's eyes, not "good site" as in location.

Of course, if it's poorly sited it will be poorly sighted.

[RJN]

The Lovejoy post says, "should remain a good site in binoculars for another few weeks". Proper grammar is "good sight", as in seeing with one's eyes, not "good site" as in location.

Oops. My bad. Fixed it. Sorry. - RJN

[Beyond]

Gee, i thought it was rather neat

[Canadian Grandma]

I've delighted in the 'site' 'sight' entries--but I do have a question. The word 'coma' as used here is new to me . Is it pronounced as in 'unconsiousness' or as in " , "?
Joyce

[Chris Peterson]

I've delighted in the 'site' 'sight' entries--but I do have a question. The word 'coma' as used here is new to me . Is it pronounced as in 'unconsiousness' or as in " , "?

The former.

[rstevenson]

Interesting response, Chris. I pronounce the 'o' in comma and in unconsiousness the same way, with an 'aw' sound. Whereas I pronounce the 'o' in coma with the same 'oh' sound as in cone or home (whether or not it refers to gas and dust in space or to a state of unconciousness.)

This wouldn't be the first time I've not heard the differences in pronounciation between certain word pairs. For example, I pronounce Don and dawn the same. Many people don't. (I grew up having a combination eastern Ontario and northern New York state accent, now modified by decades living in Nova Scotia.)

Rob

[geckzilla]

I think you're misunderstanding, Rob. It wasn't about the 'o' in unconsciousness but rather the synonym for a state of unconsciousness known as a coma, which also happens to be a homonym of a comet's coma.

[rstevenson]

I think you're misunderstanding, Rob. It wasn't about the 'o' in unconsciousness but rather the synonym for a state of unconsciousness known as a coma, which also happens to be a homonym of a comet's coma.

I know what she was referring to. But she asked how it was pronounced.

Rob

[geckzilla]

Yes, she was asking how it was pronounced like the 'o' coma (unconsciousness) or comma (punctuation), not by the 'o' in the word unconsciousness versus the 'o' in comma.

[Canadian Grandma]

Thanks folks! My doubt over the pronunciation of 'coma' was because of the connection with 'comet'. And my elderly dictionary does not have this meaning of the word in it .The day is not wasted if I learn one new thing.
Joyce

[henrystar]

Aha! I always suspected we were more interested in spelling and grammar than in science....now I know!

[Chris Peterson]

Thanks folks! My doubt over the pronunciation of 'coma' was because of the connection with 'comet'. And my elderly dictionary does not have this meaning of the word in it .The day is not wasted if I learn one new thing.

The problem isn't the age of the dictionary. "Coma" in the sense of the head of a comet has been in use for hundreds of years. The problem is the quality of the dictionary. If it doesn't provide this common usage, I'd suggest you need a new one (or an app, or a web dictionary).

[Mactavish]

Sheesh! (again)

[Beyond]

Ok, one more time... Is it an 'ohm' sound, or an 'omm' sound. Like cohma, or like comma-->,<--

[Chris Peterson]

Ok, one more time... Is it an 'ohm' sound, or an 'omm' sound. Like cohma, or like comma-->,<-- :?: :?:

That depends on your accent.

It's the same sound as you use when you say "coma" in the sense of the medical condition. For most, but perhaps not all English speakers, that's a long "o" sound.

[Beyond]

Thanks! The 'medical condition' seems to fit ISON pretty good. It's like it's not there any more.

[Anthony Barreiro]

Coma, comma, let's call the whole thing off and go outside and look at Comet Lovejoy and its lovely coma! For the past few weeks Lovejoy has consistently been easily visible through binoculars before and during dawn even in my light polluted city. Through a four inch refractor yesterday morning, Lovejoy sported a big, bright, slightly greenish coma and a faint but obvious tail. This comet is truly lovely, and a great joy!

Many thanks to Damien Peach for another beautiful picture!

[BDanielMayfield]

Coma, comma, let's call the whole thing off and go outside and look at Comet Lovejoy and its lovely coma! For the past few weeks Lovejoy has consistently been easily visible through binoculars before and during dawn even in my light polluted city. Through a four inch refractor yesterday morning, Lovejoy sported a big, bright, slightly greenish coma and a faint but obvious tail. This comet is truly lovely, and a great joy!

Many thanks to Damien Peach for another beautiful picture!

Well stated Anthony. I’d like to take a stab at seeing this comet tonight, but I find that the description of how to locate it to be rather vague. The explanation that it is “near the big dipper” covers much sky, and the linked to finder charts are rather course. Does anyone have a link to a finer finder chart for this period of Lovejoy’s maximum brightness?

[Nitpicker]

Well stated Anthony. I’d like to take a stab at seeing this comet tonight, but I find that the description of how to locate it to be rather vague. The explanation that it is “near the big dipper” covers much sky, and the linked to finder charts are rather course. Does anyone have a link to a finer finder chart for this period of Lovejoy’s maximum brightness?

The first Comet Lovejoy link in the caption takes you here:
http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2013R1/2013R1.html