Comet C/2014 Q1 Panstarrs with Moon, Venus and Jupiter Conjunction

[Soheil_Esy]

Taken by Michael Jäger on July 18, 2015 @ Farm Tivoli Namibia

Details:
UT 17.30
50mm/f-4.8 Pentax FLI 8300
L-5x180sec 2x2 bin
RGB 180/180/180 1x1 bin
RGB 5/5/5sec 1x1 bin

http://spaceweathergallery.com/indi...d=115606&PHPSESSID=ogi55qsvjsshkmmt3krssenvc2

Comet C/2014 Q1 And The Moon

Taken by Yuri Beletsky on July 17, 2015 @ Chile

Tonight we were absolutely lucky here in Chile to witness simply breathtaking view - Comet C/2014 Q1 and the crescent Moon, aligned next to each other. Unfortunately the objects were setting pretty quickly, nevertheless the view was truly unforgettable.
You can always see more of my images here:

https://www.facebook.com/yuribeletskyphoto
https://twitter.com/ybeletsky

http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=115323

Taken by Michael Jäger on July 7, 2015 @ Farm Tivoli Namibia

Details:
UT 17.15
5/f-8 Starfire, CCD Moravian G3-11003
L-8x30sec RGB 30/40/50sec

http://spaceweathergallery.com/indi...d=115593&PHPSESSID=ogi55qsvjsshkmmt3krssenvc2

Taken by Michael Jäger on July 17, 2015 @ Farm Tivoli Namibia

Details:
UT 17.30
Tak-FSQ Moravian G3-11002
L-3x75sec UV/IR
4x140sec blue

http://spaceweathergallery.com/indi...d=115680&PHPSESSID=dg0ifmcg7apdco7remqr276bc4

Information about Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS)

15 Days Ephemeris

The following table lists the ephemerides of Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS) computed for the past and next 7 days, with a 24 hours interval. Click on each row of the table in order to visualize an interactive sky map showing where Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS) will be located at the selected date.

To visualize a deep sky map of the current position of Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS), updated in real time, please go to the Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS) live tracker page.

Date Magnitude Right Ascension Declination Constellation
2015 Jul 18 5.85 09h 16m 21s +13° 23’ 14” Cancer
2015 Jul 19 6.02 09h 22m 57s +11° 45’ 05” Leo
2015 Jul 20 6.18 09h 29m 17s +10° 07’ 31” Leo
2015 Jul 21 6.34 09h 35m 26s +08° 30’ 44” Leo
2015 Jul 22 6.50 09h 41m 21s +06° 55’ 00” Leo
2015 Jul 23 6.66 09h 47m 07s +05° 20’ 29” Sextans
2015 Jul 24 6.81 09h 52m 41s +03° 47’ 17” Sextans
2015 Jul 25 6.96 09h 58m 09s +02° 15’ 33” Sextans
2015 Jul 26 7.11 10h 03m 26s +00° 45’ 21” Sextans
2015 Jul 27 7.25 10h 08m 38s -00° 43’ 08” Sextans
2015 Jul 28 7.39 10h 13m 41s -02° 09’ 56” Sextans
2015 Jul 29 7.52 10h 18m 39s -03° 34’ 57” Sextans
2015 Jul 30 7.66 10h 23m 30s -04° 58’ 09” Sextans
2015 Jul 31 7.79 10h 28m 18s -06° 19’ 30” Sextans

Distance of Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS) from Earth

The following chart shows the distance of Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS) from Earth as a function of time. Distance data is sampled with a 2 days interval, so please keep in mind that there might be inaccuracies around the time of closest approach for objects passing extremely close to Earth.

Light Curve of Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS)

The following chart is the predicted light curve (visual magnitude as a function of time) of Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS), according to the most recent ephemerides data.

The magnitude data is sampled with a 2 days interval, so there might be inaccuracies for objects changing brightness very rapidly during the course of a few days. Also, for comets there could be large discrepancies between the observed and predicted brightness because of the their highly dynamic and unpredictable behaviour.

Orbital Elements

The following table lists the orbital elements of Comet C/2014 Q1 (PANSTARRS) at epoch 26 October 2014 00:00 UTC (JD: 2456957.5). Source: JPL Small-Body Database

Element Symbol Value
Orbit eccentricity e 0.99972784
Orbit inclination i 43.10083492°
Perihelion distance q 0.31461873 AU
47,066,291 km
Aphelion distance Q 2,311.70110438 AU
345,825,563,604 km
Semi-major axis a 1,156.00786155 AU
172,936,314,948 km
Orbital period period 39,305.1400 years
14,356,203.5779 days
Date of perihelion transit Tp 2015-Jul-06 12:16:51
2,457,210.0117 JD
Next perihelion transit 2015-Jul-06 12:16
16,813,413.5896 JD
Argument of perihelion peri 120.044036333°
Longitude of the ascending node node 8.76652689806°
Mean anomaly M 359.993667949°
Mean motion n 0.00002508°/day
Closest approach to Earth* 2015-Jul-20
Distance of closest approach* 1.18329410 AU
177,018,279 km

* NOTE: values for the closest approach are computed for the time interval between 2013-Jan-01 and 2030-Jan-01, with a sampling interval of 1 day.

Live Data

http://theskylive.com/c2014q1-info

 

[Soheil_Esy]

Comet C/2014 Q1 Panstarrs showing a disconnection of one of its tails

Taken by Michael Jäger on July 16, 2015 @ Farm Tivoli Namibia

Details:
Date Taken: 2015:08:01 12:55:26
UT 17.25-45
Tak FSQ and Moravian G3-11002

Comments
I have been following your amazing images of the comet 2014 Q1 Panstarrs since you first stared posting them. Is this first image showing a disconect of the dust tail of this comet. I also want to say that your photographs have been exceptional. -David O. Darling

Note: the other tail seems unperturbed; while this Black and White photo shows no colours, compared with previous shots, it should be the blue one that is affected, thus the ion tail. Magnetic fields should have a lesser impact on a neutral dust tail.

S☫heil_Esy

Earlier 2015 Spectacular Cometary Tail Disconnection Event

Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015

On Feb. 13th, Michael Jäger of Dorfstetten Austria used a backyard telescope to capture this 'plasma blob' billowing down the tail, away from the comet's core.

This could be a sign that a magnetic storm in underway. Observers of comets frequently witness plasma blobs and 'disconnection events' in response to CMEs and gusts of solar wind. In extreme cases, a comet's tail can be completely torn off.

The underlying physics is akin to terrestrial geomagnetic storms. When magnetic fields around a comet bump into oppositely-directed magnetic fields in a CME, those fields can link together or "reconnect." The resulting burst of magnetic energy can make waves, blobs, or even ruptures in the comet's tail. When CMEs hit Earth, a similar process takes place in the planet's magnetosphere powering, among other things, the aurora borealis.

Taken by Michael Jäger on February 13, 2015 @ Dorfstetten Austria

Details:
UT 19.44
L-1x420 blue
RGB 180/180/180sec

Newton 10/4.0 Moravian G3-11002

http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=13&month=02&year=2015

Taken by Michael Jäger on February 20, 2015 @ Stixendorf Austria

Details:
Date Taken: 2015:02:22 00:17:44
UT 19.50
3x450sec blue
RGB 300/300/300
10//4.0 Moravian G3-11002

http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=109042

Taken by Michael Jäger on February 13, 2015 @ Dorfstetten Austria

Details:
4x420sec blue
10/4.0

http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=109080

http://spaceweathergallery.com/indi...d=115773&PHPSESSID=pqjsprchr7tbnh6esk8snrg6m2

 

[Kyle]

I was hoping to catch a glimpse of this comet, but sadly, well... my sky has rather looked like this lately.