A Second Chance to See Comet Leonard

(Plain Text Version)

A New Comet: Good News or Bad News?

From the earliest ages, the appearance of a new comet was a source of excitement.  Bright comets can be awesome to see, and they do not come frequently. 

Sometimes, comets were considered a sign that something good was about to happen.  More often, however, people feared that something terrible was coming soon.

Today, we know a lot more about comets.  But just like the days of old, I have some apprehension when I hear that a major comet is coming.  I don’t fear that earthquakes or crop failures will happen.  I just wonder if I will be able to get a good look!

Astronomers can tell us where a comet will be, but not what it will look like.  So, I get excited when I hear that a bright one is approaching.  On the happy side, I look forward to seeing a beautiful and unique sight in the sky.  On the downside, I foresee a struggle to see it at all.

Comet Leonard Comes to Town

Comet Leonard came from a region of our solar system called the Oort Cloud, which is about 1,000 times as far away as Pluto.  Objects in the Oort cloud are beyond the reach of even our best telescopes. 

After traveling for thousands of years, our new object was discovered in January 2021 by Gregory Leonard.  It’s official name is C/2021 A1 (Leonard).

As it approached, it was visible in the Northern Hemisphere before sunrise.  I’ll make no excuses: I wasn’t motivated to get out of bed to look for it.  I waited until it moved into the evening sky. 

Unfortunately, the comet was visible for only a short time after sunset and was very low in the sky.  I made a couple of trips to the edge of the city but found the sky too hazy to see the comet.

A Happy Ending in the Southern Hemisphere

Thanks to the internet, I was able to remotely operate a telescope in Australia (see iTelescope.net).  On my first try, I got a very good, sharp image.  I enjoy looking at details of a good image, but I especially enjoy standing outside and looking at a comet “in person.”

Maybe I will set my alarm next time.