Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in 2006

Reading through some old e-mails....I found this - I hope this turns out well ! How can I get a predicted 'flight' path through the constellations for this?

Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in 2006. This particular
rendezvous with the sun will place it very close to the Earth in
May. In fact, it will be closer than Comet Hyakutake at
approximately 4.7 million miles on May 17. It will be trekking
across the sky at an unbelievable 30.6"/minute. This will make it a
challenge to photography, especially if you want pinpoint stars.
Given its speed, you only have about 2 minutes with a 75 mm lens before
trailing of the stars becomes noticeable if you are guiding on the
comet so fast film will be a must. Because of its fast speed,
CCDers will have better luck with this comet;

What's really interesting is the "predicted" ion tail length of about 85 degrees on May 21, using Comet for Windows. Fortunately, the comet has slowed down considerably by this time, 13.6"/minute. This should be a sweet sight if it truly pans out this way; however, as all of you know,
comets are very unpredictable.

You know, May is not that far away
It would be wonderful to have another Hyakutake when it appeared in 1996!!!

Keith..

Hi Keith

I have been monitoring chat with the guys on the MPML regarding this comet. They now reckon it will peak at mag 3.5 however John Bortle and others are expressing doubt about this comets apparition. They said it may not even have a bright tail at all or if it does then it will be very faint plus some suspect the comet may even fizzle out

But as you know comets are unpredictable and it may still put on a good show so fingers crossed. I look forwrd to observing it as soon as it comes within range of my scopes. I also look forward to some nice images from you keith

Heres a star chart for this earth approaching short period comet..

www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/0073P/2006.html

www.aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html

Dont forget about C/2006A1 Pojamski which might be a binocular object in early March in the morning sky. Its already been seen in binoculars and estimated between mag 8 - 9 which is brighter than it should be plus a tail was picked up on CCD images. Guess we wil have to wait and see.

Fingers crossed!!!!

Keith..

Ion tail length of 85 degrees? :shock: That will some sight - fingers crossed here too!

As always with comets,
hope for the best, expect the worst,
More often then not, they let you down, but you can always hope.

I'll always remember the reaction of friends of mine seeing halleys comet back in the eightys, "you're kidding me, is that it ?? "

Comets, as well as other things in life - the weather, Everton FC, intimacy

I remember seeing Halley (before I got back into astronomy) and that's what I thought too But then that *was* naked eye from London... Do we know each other?