Comet sweeps closest to Earth this week (earthsky.org)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Eddie Irizarry in Astronomy Essentials | Space | February 11, 2019

Fast-moving comet C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto) will pass closest to us – 28 million miles away – on February 12. The nights of February 11 and 12 are best for glimpsing the comet, which is now reported to be visible in binoculars.

Japanese astronomer Masayuki Iwamoto discovered a new comet in late 2018. It’s a fast-moving comet that will be closest to Earth on February 12, 2019, at around 3:10 p.m. ET (20:10 UTC; translate to your time zone). The celestial visitor will safely pass by Earth at some 28 million miles (45 million km). The comet has been designated C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto).

This comet is fast! Comet C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto) is traveling through space at the amazing speed of 147,948 miles per hour (238,099 km/h) or 66 km per second, relative to Earth.

The best nights for observing the comet with optical aid should be on February 11 and 12. It will not be visible to the eye alone. But observers report it is now visible in binoculars.
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more: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/c-2018-y1-iwamoto-jan-feb-2019




This is the famous GREEN comet. It will be passing near the "Sickle" of Leo, an easy-to-spot asterism. This may be your last chance to see this comet before 3390.

[mitch96]

1. Did not give much thought about Comets until 1986

That was the year my father died.. While talking about Halleys Comets fly buy in '86 the astronomers were saying that the last time it flew by was 1910.
My father was born in 1910 and died in 1986. He was a comet kinda guy..
m