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[Centaur]

A new comet has been discovered that could become intensely bright when it comes extremely close to the Sun in late 2013. It is called C/2012 S1 (ISON). Here is some info: remanzacco.blogspot.com/2012/09/new-comet-c2012-s1-ison.html

I’ve created five related charts with graphics and data. They can be seen on my comets webpage at: www.CurtRenz.com/comets

Photos and descriptions of the comet would be welcome additions to this thread.

[Centaur]

Based on very preliminary JPL parameters, the comet would peak at magnitude -15.7 when at perihelion on 2013 NOV 28 at 20:51 UT. However, at perihelion the comet will be only 0.0125 AU from the Sun, placing the comet too close to the Sun at that time to be observed by naked eyes or the telescopes of amateurs. The comet's brilliance will be considerably dimmer during the days on either side of perihelion.

Here are my calculated magnitudes based on current JPL parameters at 00:00 UT during late 2013.

NOV 20 +01.2
NOV 21 +00.8
NOV 22 +00.3
NOV 23 -00.2
NOV 24 -00.8
NOV 25 -01.5
NOV 26 -02.5
NOV 27 -03.9
NOV 28 -06.4
NOV 29 -13.1
NOV 30 -05.6
DEC 01 -03.6
DEC 02 -02.4
DEC 03 -01.5
DEC 04 -00.9
DEC 05 -00.4
DEC 06 +00.0
DEC 07 +00.4
DEC 08 +00.7
DEC 09 +01.0
DEC 10 +01.2

During the above dates until about 2013 NOV 25 the comet should be visible by naked eye above the southeastern horizon shortly before sunrise. It's not until about DEC 06 that the comet should be visible by naked eye above the western horizon shortly after sunset and again in the east before sunrise.

[magic612]

Curt, thanks for this info. I just hope it doesn't become a Comet Kohoutek, with a big media frenzy winding up in a public response of "Really? That's it?"