Looking for Lulin in Leo
Comet Lulin is putting on a quite a show and soon to be glowing in an evening sky near you.
Come the last week of Feb, this comet will make its way through the constellation Leo the Lion – and among the same stars, the planet Saturn is in residence.
Leo is high enough in the eastern sky by 9 pm and not hard to find. Leo’s brightest star Regulus shines at the leading end while Saturn appears among the stars at the tail end. Regulus and Saturn are about equal in brightness and if you can find them, both can help find the fast moving comet Lulin.
Unless you live somewhere really dark, you’ll need at least binoculars to see the comet.
Assuming the sky is clear, go out Tues night – Feb 23 – and look near Saturn. Be patient and scan slowly – even though Lulin is predicted to be at its brightest, look for subtle brightness concentrated in the middle of a diffuse fuzzy blob.
By Feb 27, the comet will appear near Regulus. Use the same technique of slow scanning with binoculars to see Lulin and see if you notice any changes in its appearance.
The Maryland Science Center’s Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory will look at Lulin Fri Feb 27. Assuming the weather permits, the Observatory will be open from 5:30 – 9 pm. Remember though, it’s always a good idea to call ahead to confirm. Call 410.545.2999 for Observatory information and status. Admission is free!
A few special things about comet Lulin:
Astronomers think this is Lulin’s first time traveling so close to the Sun – that means up until now, it’s retained most of the material that we’re seeing melted and blown away by the Sun and solar wind (and in turn, making it visible!).
Comet Lulin is orbiting the Sun in the opposite direction as the planets.
The name Lulin is after the Lulin Observatory in Taiwan, one of the locations of discovery (the other was in China, by a teenage student of Sun Yat-sen University)
More info here:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/35992534.html?1=1
Some images here:
http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_lulin_page8.htm?PHPSESSID=l1pebs2237fbmgb4e8jq3jqht6
