[BAA Comets] News about Comet 29P/Schwassmann Wachmann 1 + Observing alert

Richard Miles rmiles.btee at btinternet.com
Sun Dec 1 21:43:06 GMT 2019


For the last 80 days, the inner coma brightness of 29P has remained within 
the R magnitude range, 15.2-16.6.
That sounds like the comet has been quiescent but in reality the nucleus has 
been very active with 14 mini-outbursts taking place during this short time 
interval. High cadence accurate photometry by several amateur observers has 
provided this new insight.

The low-level activity seems to be intensifying and, with the waxing Moon 
rapidly approaching the comet, observers equipped with a telescopes of 
 >0.25-m aperture are encouraged to pay particular attention to this object. 
The aim is to achieve continuous monitoring from many sites around the 
world.

Advice on suitable observing methods can be found at the BAA tutorial:
https://britastro.org/node/18562

Please correspond offline with me if you obtain good imaging of 29P.
Several of you are already doing so with good effect.
Thanks.

Richard Miles



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