The restaurant was quiet and somewhat darkened in the twilight. Two friends chatting, eating out reading the news on the web.
October 2014 – Southern Comets Homepage – ‘Siding Springs Comet’
“As October begins, you will find the magnitude 9.5 comet ‘Siding Springs’ situated near the stinger of the Scorpion in the evening sky.
Moonlight interferes with viewing until the 10th.
On Oct 8-9, the comet is within a degree of the butterfly star cluster M6.
Moonlight interferes with viewing until the 10th.
On Oct 8-9, the comet is within a degree of the butterfly star cluster M6.
On Sunday evening Oct 19th, the now magnitude 10.0 comet and magnitude 0.9 Mars will be separated by less than 20 arc minutes.
From Adelaide, the altitude will be 38 degrees at 9pm, reducing to 3 degrees by midnight.
The brightness of Mars may actually overwhelm your chances to see the comet but definitely try to capture it photographically! ” – Southern Comets Homepage
October 2014 – Red Planet News – Earth Edition – ‘C2013/A1’
All us satellites are hiding out at the back of Mars and a comet C2013/A1 magnitude -6 is coming straight at us. It’s definitely the most beautiful photographic sight ever looking at the dust tail. These photos are going to be fantastic news back on earth. We’re going to miss this massive object by around an hour and a half. The extra hydrogen and dust in the atmosphere will be a bit of a drag and we’re keeping clear of the dust particles as much as possible.
‘What do you think ?’ said Sally
‘I once had a close call like that with a large heavy brightly shining object fast moving, passed very close to my heart. It was incredibly fantastic. I was so entranced that I really just didn’t get away until I was overwhelmed with the sudden danger of it.’ said Alan
‘Was it love ? perhaps ?’ said Sally
They sat there quietly reviewing the news on their respective tablets again.
Comet Siding Spring: Southern Comets Homepage
Photo: Teriiska:Flickr – Used with permission
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