Comet Lulin, also known as C/2007 N3, was first discovered by 19-year-old Chinese astronomer Quanzhi Ye on images taken by a Taiwanese astronomer named Chi Sheng Lin. The discovery, on July 11, 2007, was made with a 16-inch telescope at Lulin Observatory, lending the comet its name.
This may be the comet's first trip to the inner solar system, which means there is a lot unknown about how it will react as Comet Lulin nears the sun. It will not return again this way for more than a thousand years.
How to See Comet Lulin
Comet Lulin will be passing through Libra in January and early February. At this time of year, the constellation Libra does not rise into the night sky until the hours just before sunrise. Libra will be situated in the southeast between Virgo with its bright star Spica and Scorpius. Libra's most notable feature is a triangle of three stars. On February 5 and 6, Comet Lulin will be easier to spot as it passes by the second brightest of Libra's stars, Zubenelgenbui. In January and early February, the comet will still be rather dim, around 8th magnitude, requiring a mid-sized telescope to see it.
Comet Lulin Reaches Its Peak Brightness
Comet Lulin is expected to reach peak brightness around the time of closest approach, on February 24. On that date, it will lie approximately 0.41 AU from Earth and shine around 5th magnitude, which would be visible to the unaided eye from a dark site. But it may grow brighter than this, and the good news is it is already sporting a tail - two, to be precise.
The comet has both a tail and an "anti-tail," which is a trail of light leading away from the comet on the opposite side from the main tail. This unique tail/antitail comet will give it an appearance closer to a galaxy or a star with jets emanating from each side.
Comet Lulin near Saturn
But the most unique feature about February 23 to 24 will be its location in the sky: alongside Saturn. As it leaves Libra in mid-February, Comet Lulin enters Virgo and heads toward the bright star Spica, which it passes February 15/16. A week later, on February 23/24, Comet Lulin will pass below Saturn, at magnitude 0.5. This positioning will be especially helpful for those trying to locate the comet in binoculars or a telescope, making the comet an easier target. The brightness of the planet may wash out the naked-eye view a bit, however. Saturn and the comet are now in Leo.
Fortunately, as Comet Lulin brightens, it also moves into the evening sky. Viewers hoping to catch Comet Lulin at its brightest will be able to go out in the late evening in mid to late February and look east, toward Leo rising with its distinctive backward question-mark shape. Bright Regulus marks the bottom of that question mark in Leo and brighter Saturn is positioned at Leo's back heel. The comet will start east of Saturn and move a little farther west each night.
Comet Lulin is following the path of the ecliptic very closely. As it leaves Saturn it skims the bright star Regulus in Leo at the end of the month. Comet Lulin will still be a decent observing target in March although it is dimming. It will cross into the constellation Cancer and pass near the Beehive Cluster, M44, around March 5/6. From March through May it will cross through the midsection of Gemini the Twins and continue to dim.
Stay tuned for updates on its brightness as Comet Lulin approaches Earth
الازرق السماوي : هو مساره المقطوع مسبقا
الازرق الداكن: هو المسار المتوقع في الايام المقبلة
Comet Lulin will be passing through Libra in January and early February
العرض الشجري
