Ace of Spades HQ

March 05, 2013

Comet PANSTARRS "Arrives" Sunday
— CAC

For those of you following the Year of the Comet, the first entry worth looking for, PANSTARRS, should be visible right after sunset in the Northern Hemisphere perhaps as early as March 7th, but certainly by Sunday, March 10th.
Morons and ettes living in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and points south of roughly Charleston/Atlanta should get a good look of the comet about 3-5 degrees above the Western horizon:

Note: tail length is computer generated and will range wildly in appearance depending on latitude and darkness
Those of you living further north may need binoculars to enjoy a good view, as the setting sun will keep the sky glowing a bit too bright to see much detail. The comet will "rise" higher in the western sky over the next week-and-a-half, dimming but making for a great target of amateur telescopes and binoculars.

Just how bright PANSTARRS will get is unknown at this point, but it has been spotted from Buenos Aires from well within the city limits. Photographer Jim Gafford snapped this in Western Australia, to give you a sense of how bright it already is, with several days left before closest approach to the sun:

Posted by: CAC at 04:44 PM | Comments (68)
Post contains 206 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Which pron stars?

Posted by: Absolute power is a plus, absolutely! at March 05, 2013 04:47 PM (I88Jc)

2 C'mon, SCOD!

Posted by: Tickey at March 05, 2013 04:47 PM (TBatN)

3 Big Bang Theory > PANSTARRS

Posted by: Truck Monkey at March 05, 2013 04:47 PM (jucos)

4 Tail length? Shit that little monkey didn't have a tail, but she could suck a mean dick.

Posted by: Sen Mendeniz at March 05, 2013 04:47 PM (wR+pz)

5 Hugo Chavez Dead!

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Wily Wrepublican Wench at March 05, 2013 04:48 PM (kXoT0)

Panstarrs? No thanks; I'm waiting for Comet Pon Farr - I hear the tail on that one will be REALLY spectacular.

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at March 05, 2013 04:49 PM (FkH4y)

7 How many children had that jacket of the Stargazer wadded up in their mouths to stop the screams?

Posted by: Absolute power is a plus, absolutely! at March 05, 2013 04:52 PM (I88Jc)

8 The Universe is more amazing than we can imagine.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Take us away. at March 05, 2013 04:52 PM (Gk3SS)

9
To bad it wasn't discovered by Dick Hertz.

Posted by: YIKES! at March 05, 2013 04:52 PM (mETGQ)

10 All this comet activity is due to global warming. Prove me wrong

Posted by: Sunny at March 05, 2013 04:53 PM (CoNjs)

11 Thanks, CAC.

Unfortunately, I am not in an area where iit will be seen.

I like reading about this,though.

Posted by: Miss Marple at March 05, 2013 04:53 PM (GoIUi)

12 ***puts on purple robe and waits patiently for spaceship***

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at March 05, 2013 04:55 PM (JDIKC)

13 Here we go again. What could possibly go wrong?

O>>>>>

Posted by: Craig Poe at March 05, 2013 04:55 PM (BVkEs)

14

If it gets to close, blast it with a shot gun.

Posted by: Joe Biden at March 05, 2013 04:55 PM (mETGQ)

You couldn't hit the broad side of a little old planet like this one.

You're mother was an asteroid.

Go back and get your big brother!

Who, me taunting?

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at March 05, 2013 04:56 PM (+z4pE)

16 Comet viewing is like rape.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at March 05, 2013 04:56 PM (JDIKC)

17 So close..... Disappointing.

Posted by: EC at March 05, 2013 04:58 PM (doBIb)

18 And the zombie apocalypse begins...

Posted by: Waldo Truth at March 05, 2013 04:58 PM (5PMD3)

19 Comet is OK, but Lysol w/ scrubbing bubbles is the cat's meow ...

Posted by: A cynical but rarely angry Adriane at March 05, 2013 05:00 PM (TvO05)

20 Hugo has got one of them flying up his rear end right about now.

Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn at March 05, 2013 05:00 PM (xeIcj)

21

Are substituting a comet for a volcano?

Posted by: Joe Biden at March 05, 2013 05:01 PM (mETGQ)

22

Isn't their suppose to another comet show around October?

Posted by: YIKES! at March 05, 2013 05:03 PM (mETGQ)

23 Don't panic, it's just our shuttle bus.

Posted by: Marshall Applewhite at March 05, 2013 05:03 PM (Fz2C7)

24 ASSAULT COMET!!!

Posted by: comet banners at March 05, 2013 05:03 PM (rdy8w)

WTF, no burning skull for the demise of Hugo Chavez? What's up with that??

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 05, 2013 05:06 PM (IDSI7)

26 Hugo dieing and a comet in the sky. So will Sean Penn drink some Guyana Grape out of his little red plastic cup to mark the passing of Hugo?

As for Pan-STARRS, shall be neat.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 05, 2013 05:07 PM (h4Bce)

27 9 The Universe is more amazing than we can imagine. Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Take us away. at March 05, 2013 08:52 PM (Gk3SS) THIS. I will say that I LOVE nature/science shows. I'm always just blown away by the complexity and the absolute raw beauty that is existence. Reaffirms my faith every time.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at March 05, 2013 05:08 PM (GEICT)

28 Was that a fucking comet or did I cum again?

Fuck, I can't walk.

Posted by: Sen Mendeniz at March 05, 2013 05:08 PM (wR+pz)

29 Lots of omens and portents this year with meteors falling from the sky and comets passing by...hope it means something good.

Posted by: CanaDave at March 05, 2013 05:10 PM (jP+OD)

30 PANSTAARS is Esperanto for rape!

Posted by: Ashley Judd at March 05, 2013 05:10 PM (BuSM8)

31 Old Man: Dammit, Chumlee, careful driving that comet so close to Earth, we just paid good money for that.

*Chum crashes comet into Washington, DC*

Chumlee: Oops.

Rick: You know what... good job, Chum.

Posted by: PAN STARRS at March 05, 2013 05:11 PM (rdy8w)

32 Hugo IS a flaming skull right now. Bwaaahaahahaaaa!

Posted by: Satan at March 05, 2013 05:12 PM (C8mVl)

33 The other comet is called ISON in November/December.

Also in November will be a hybrid eclipse. Nov. 3 starts as a regular annular eclipse, Ring of Fire, and turns into a total eclipse. Won't be visible in North America except over the Internet.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 05, 2013 05:13 PM (h4Bce)

34 Lots of omens and portents this year with meteors falling from the sky and comets passing by...hope it means something good.
Posted by: CanaDave at March 05, 2013 09:10 PM

****

Have there been any instances where these things were portents of good......?
Remember the Black Plague and the Spanish Flu?

Posted by: Hair Shirted Prophet at March 05, 2013 05:14 PM (MhA4j)

35 Speaking of flaming skulls, how come we didn't get one for Hugo?...I would've thought there'd be pudding too?

Posted by: CanaDave at March 05, 2013 05:15 PM (jP+OD)

36 Nice tail.

Posted by: garrett at March 05, 2013 05:18 PM (RXzLW)

37 THE COLORS! THE COLORS!

Posted by: toby928© presents at March 05, 2013 05:18 PM (QupBk)

Have there been any instances where these things were portents of good......? Remember the Black Plague and the Spanish Flu?

That's a cheerful thought...

Posted by: CanaDave at March 05, 2013 05:18 PM (jP+OD)

39 Remember that fat little pill popper at the UN carrying around some stupid Chomsky book like it was a bible and joking about smelling brimstone when Bush arrived. Hey fucker, how's that brimstone smelling now, you little bitch?

Posted by: Eaton Cox at March 05, 2013 05:18 PM (q177U)

40 >Lots of omens and portents this year with meteors falling from the sky and comets passing by...hope it means something good.

Posted by: CanaDave at March 05, 2013 09:10 PM (jP+OD)

don't forget lightning striking the Vatican shortly after the Pope announced he was stepping down

Posted by: Jones in CO at March 05, 2013 05:18 PM (8sCoq)

41 and with that, the Hawks are up 4-1 in the 1st.

Posted by: garrett at March 05, 2013 05:19 PM (RXzLW)

42 The Zombie Apocalypse!...that's what it is!...that's why the US Gov't is buying so much ammo!...they're just not telling us cuz they don't want a panic...

Posted by: CanaDave at March 05, 2013 05:20 PM (jP+OD)

43 If you want some mind blowing info, it really puts how fricken big our own solar system is, nevermind the galaxy or universe. Interesting vids to burn some time and melt your brain.

http://tinyurl.com/a287hl6

Posted by: Red Shirt at March 05, 2013 05:20 PM (FIDMq)

44 24 Don't panic, it's just our shuttle bus. Posted by: Marshall Applewhite Hahahaha!

Posted by: Waldo Truth at March 05, 2013 05:20 PM (5PMD3)

45 TUF's Clint is an animal? Zuffa's defense attorneys must weep!

Posted by: derit at March 05, 2013 05:21 PM (I88Jc)

46 As I said earlier this morning, check out today's Astronomy Picture of the Day. It shows two comets in the sky over South America at the same time, Comet PANSTARRS and Comet Lemmon. That's pretty damn unusual. http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ (That's the current link. If you visit the site tomorrow, click the back arrow to see yesterday's photo.)

Posted by: rickl at March 05, 2013 05:21 PM (sdi6R)

47 Here we come to chow down , honkies.

Posted by: New Brotherhood Army at March 05, 2013 05:23 PM (+bZOu)

48 ***puts on purple robe and waits patiently for spaceship*** You know those nuts have to come off before the .. err .. ascension.

Posted by: toby928© presents at March 05, 2013 05:26 PM (QupBk)

49 Oh crud, Rev. Armitage's cannibals have invaded the thread.

Where is the mustard gas ban hammer?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 05, 2013 05:26 PM (h4Bce)

50 Here EoJ, have some of this KoolAid while you wait.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at March 05, 2013 05:30 PM (GEICT)

51 I own half a commet!

Posted by: Tim Hamner at March 05, 2013 05:30 PM (+bZOu)

52 Shouldn't we be ripping hearts out, Aztec style!?

Posted by: Bubba from County at March 05, 2013 05:30 PM (5PMD3)

53 Yeah Tim, keep patting that crumpled telegram. A poor kid with a homemade telescope got the other half while you spent how much $$$ on professional equipment? Occupy the Comet!!!

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 05, 2013 05:32 PM (h4Bce)

54
Re: Comet C/2013A1 - The Potential Mars Impactor of 2014

Continued analysis has dropped the impact odds to 1/600 as of today.

However, it will defiantly be a very close approach to Mars, within 30k km or better. And since the comet is in a hyperbolic retrograde orbit with a closing velocity of 56k/s, the potential for comet debris tearing up stuff in the Mars system remains. Including all the way down to the surface because of the planet's thin atmosphere and the odd space probe or two.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 05, 2013 05:53 PM (kdS6q)

55 Posted by: rickl at March 05, 2013 09:21 PM (sdi6R) Great links! Thanks.

Posted by: abner normal at March 05, 2013 05:55 PM (6gk77)

56 I love when the blog goes into Ace of Space mode. Saw a picture of Panstarrs and ISON taken at ESO in Chile. I wish i could be there to see this show.

Posted by: Morris at March 05, 2013 06:03 PM (XG0FE)

57 57
Re: Comet C/2013A1 - The Potential Mars Impactor of 2014

Continued analysis has dropped the impact odds to 1/600 as of today.

However, it will defiantly be a very close approach to Mars, within 30k km or better. And since the comet is in a hyperbolic retrograde orbit with a closing velocity of 56k/s, the potential for comet debris tearing up stuff in the Mars system remains. Including all the way down to the surface because of the planet's thin atmosphere and the odd space probe or two.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 05, 2013 09:53 PM (kdS6q)

How badass would that be to get video of that from the surface

Posted by: Red Shirt at March 05, 2013 06:05 PM (FIDMq)

58 There is all sorts of badassery that could go down with that one. Some great viewing coming up over the next year or so.

Posted by: Morris at March 05, 2013 06:10 PM (XG0FE)

59 Morons and ettes living in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and points south of roughly Charleston/Atlanta should get a good look of the comet about 3-5 degrees above the Western horizon:

And Romney is going to be the next president.

Posted by: CAN CAC GET anything right? at March 05, 2013 06:12 PM (nHeU5)

60 Unfortunately http://eyes.nasa.gov/ does not have Comet C/2013A1 or ISON or Pan-STARRS. You can find under Destinations/Comets Hailey plus a couple other comets.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 05, 2013 06:15 PM (h4Bce)

61 Whoops I was wrong, after clicking on Hailey found ISON in the system but there is no information on it.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 05, 2013 06:17 PM (h4Bce)

62 58 Posted by: rickl at March 05, 2013 09:21 PM (sdi6R) Great links! Thanks. Posted by: abner normal at March 05, 2013 09:55 PM (6gk77) APOD is a site that everybody should have bookmarked, and take a look at every day. There's no excuse not to.

Posted by: rickl at March 05, 2013 06:30 PM (sdi6R)

63 you can track it on starry night; i imagine that stellarium does a nice job too. i've been bumping the days to see when the comet will be above the sun at sunset. of course, we're about to get snow this week. i joke the PANSTARRS is greek for 'snowstorms'.

Posted by: Morris at March 05, 2013 06:30 PM (2YpKq)

64 Here, I made a finder chart with Xephem. This should help you locate PANSTAARS over the next couple of weeks. The view is tilted a bit, but the white curving line at the right is the horizon 1/2 hour after sunset. The bright constellation Orion is at the left, and the bright planet Jupiter is to the upper right of Orion. The green line with the dates is the comet's position. The sky will still be bright 1/2 hour after sunset and you won't be able to see most of these stars, but if you can see Jupiter (the brightest object in the evening sky now) and Orion, this chart may help you get your bearings. http://tinyurl.com/d7a9mhp

Posted by: rickl at March 05, 2013 06:46 PM (sdi6R)

65 Looking at Xephem some more, the crescent moon will be a good guide. On the evening of the 12th, it will be close to the horizon and the comet will be to the left of it. On the 13th, it will be higher and the comet will be below it.

Posted by: rickl at March 05, 2013 07:06 PM (sdi6R)

66 when I first looked I thought it was called "PORNSTARS" and I said "hey, that's a pretty cool name for a comet!"

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 05, 2013 07:25 PM (hTDbY)

67 68 rick l nice chart, thank you. looking forward to the coming weeks!

Posted by: Morris at March 06, 2013 02:33 AM (ywR6L)

68 Sequester! Pope resigning! Chavez dying! Asteroids! COMETS! We really are DOOMED!

Posted by: WannabeAnglican at March 06, 2013 04:06 AM (Tmdyt)

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