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This page is dedicated to comets and novae in the night sky. Check our Facebook page for

current pictures.

Comet Panstarrs C/2014 S2 in Draco the Dragon. Nov 30, 2015.

Photo Credit: Robert Mueller

 

Comet Lovejoy 2014 Q2 movement over a 4 day period as it passes double star 35 Cas.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lovejoy 2014 Q2 as it passes NGC 457, the Owl or ET Cluster in Cassiopeia.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lovejoy 2014 Q2 movement over a 4 day period as it passes double star 35 Cas.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lovejoy 2014 Q2. A solar coronal mass ejection disrupts the long tail of the comet.

Photo Credit: Robert Mueller

Comet Lovejoy 2014 Q2 on January 18th, 2015.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Size comparison of Comet Lovejoy 2014 Q2 and the Moon. The tail of the comet is several degrees in length

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lovejoy 2014 Q2 as it passes M79 in the constellation of Lepus, the Hare.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

After 10 months, Nova Delphinus can still be seen telescopically. It may fade beyond its original 16 magnitude glow.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

A Super Nova in the galaxy called M83 or the Cigar Galaxy is easily seen in small amateur telescopes. This galaxy is about 20 million light years away in the constellation of Ursa Major, the Big Dipper.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet LINEAR 2012/X1 as it cruises by the small globular cluster NGC 2419 on Feb 26th, 2014.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Another Super Nova is discovered in the Messier galaxy called M74. Taken on January 1st, 2014.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lovejoy C2013 R1 as it leaves the constellation Hercules on January 13th, 2014.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Linear C/2012 X1 on January 13th, 2014 as it cruises thru the constellation Ophiuchus. It will meet up with Comet Lovejoy from above on February 4th, 2014.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

The new year has Nova Delphini holding at magnitude 10.5.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

A nova was also discovered in the Messier object M74 just before Nova Delphini. This is a super nova class object about 30 million light years away in the constellation of Pisces.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

On November 17th, 2013, the Nova in Delphinus seems to be holding at magnitude 10.5 after blowing up on August 14th, 2013. The small blue ball is NGC 6905, a planetary nebula nearby. The star by the nebula is the comparison star for magnitude.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet ISON is brightening as it approaches the Sun, but will be tougher to see in the glow of Sun rise. This was taken on Nov 14th 2013 just before dawn.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lovejoy R1 2013 has been high in the sky before Sun rise the past few weeks. This picture was taken the morning of November 12th, 2013. Click the below link for a video of 4 hour movement.

http://youtu.be/gZ5eSB9rlH4
 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

A new nova in the Milky Way in the constellation Delphinus was discovered on August 14, 2012 by amateur astronomer Koichi Itagaki. Within 48 hours, the nova had increased in brightness over 1 million times and was able to be seen with the naked eye.  The small planetary nebula NGC 6905 in the above picture is a star that exploded off its outer shell of hydrogen, but didn't have enough mass or energy to go nova or supernova. Click the above picture for a larger view.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Update on the Nova in Delphinus on October 28th. The Nova has held steady for the past week at a magnitude of about 10.5.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Finder chart for Nova Delphini 2013. Click the picture for a larger view.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Day 1 and Day 2 of the nova in Delphinus. The nova brightened to naked eye view on Day 2.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Day three shows the nova decreased a bit in brightness, but it is still naked eye visible.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Magnitude comparisons to nearby stars show the nova at magnitude 5.0. This comparison was made on August 16th.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Magnitude comparisons on the morning of August 12th show the nova holding steady at magnitude 5.0.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lemmon C/2012 F6 is an early morning site shown here on July 1st, 2013 passing the open cluster NGC 7789.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lemmon C/2012 F6 nears the open cluster Messier 52, or M52 in the constellation Cassiopeia on the morning of July 10th, 2013.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lemmon C/2012 F6 makes a very unique conjunction, or alignment with M52 and the Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) on July 15th, 2013

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lemmon C/2012 F6 is an early morning site shown here on June 18th, 2013.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Lemmon on June 20th. Note the two small stars by the Comet. In the above picture, the stars were to the left of the image. This shows how slow comets can move thru the sky. Click on the picture to see a full view. Small galaxies are circled. The comet is leaving the constellation of Andromeda on this date. 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs makes a pass by a small galaxy PGC 52341 as it fades on July 30, 2013.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs 2011 L4 has been going thru changes on its path around our night skies. Click on the picture to see a full size montage.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

After Comet Panstarrs 2011 L4 rose out of the Sun's glare, it started heading north and was an easier site when it entered dark skies. This picture was from April 10th, 2013.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs on April 14th 2013.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs seems to spread its wings as it heads towards Polaris on May 8th.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs has really gone thru changes in May. This May 26th picture shows off its very long tail.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs has really gone thru changes in May. This  May 28th, 2013 picture shows its tail is still quite long.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs is shown with the Moon pasted into the above picture to show the size of the overall comet.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs begins to fade quickly as it goes into June. This is a June 2nd picture.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

June 4th, 2013 picture of Comet Panstarrs.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Panstarrs passes near Kochab, the brightest star in Ursa Minor or the Little Dipper on June 18th, 2013.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hergenrother 168P is promising to give astronomers a good show as it nears Earth. It has already had an outburst as it has been passing thru the constellation Pegasus. Looking closely at the larger picture and several small galaxies will be seen. To see a larger version click here. A video can be seen on U Tube here.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Although Comet Hergenrother 168P was reported to have broken into pieces, the main comet core is still intact and is providing nice views in November. The tail has a fan shape now after the breakup. Click here for a larger view.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd 2009 P1 passes another small unique galaxy on April 17th, 2012 going thru the constellation of Camelopardalis. It's circumpolar at present and can be seen after sun set. PGC29624 is to the upper right of the comet.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd 2009 P1 is still at it on March 20th, 2012 going thru the constellation of Draco. It's circumpolar at present and can be seen after sun set. A small galaxy PGC 32321 is to the left of the comet.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd 2009 P1 passes Caldwell 3 also known as NGC4236, a small galaxy in the constellation Draco. This near pass occurred on March 13th, 2012.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd 2009 P1 is still at it on February 1st, 2012 going thru the constellation of Hercules. It's a early morning object at present with this picture taken at 4AM. The tail has the appearance of a boomerang as it passes Messier object M92, a globular cluster. 

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd 2009 P1 is still at it on November 14th, 2011. It is closing in on the Sun and starting to show some a bit of a fan tail.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Honda Mrosk Pajdusakova in the early morning the 1st of October, 2011.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd 2009/P1 approaches the Coat Hanger Cluster on Sept 1st, 2011.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd 2009/P1 makes a close pass to Messier 15 on August 1st, 2011.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd 2009/P1 passes by Messier 71 on its route thru the solar system.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd P1 is the small green blob but, may become naked eye visible in late August or September, 2011. This picture was taken in July.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Garradd P1 the first week of August, 2011 is starting to grow in size and sport a tail visually.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hartley 2 103P is the small green blob between M46 and M47. The haze is from a slight cloud layer obscuring the skies.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hartley 2 103P approaches the Double Cluster in Perseus.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hartley 2 103P is the  green blob between M46 and M47. A small planetary nebula, NGC2438 can be seen in front of M46 on the right.

 

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Even the Pacman Nebula was not safe from Comet Hartley 2 103.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hartley 2 103P flies past the small nebula NGC 1491 in Perseus.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hartley 2 103P flies past the Double Cluster in Perseus. Click the thumbnail for the original size.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hartley 2 103P flies past the Owl or ET Cluster in Cassiopeia. Click the thumbnail for the original size.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hartley 2 103P heads towards the Double Cluster in Perseus.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Hartley 2 103P as it approaches Eta Persei.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet McNaught R1 flies by a small galaxy NGC 891.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet McNaught R1 is located in an area chocked full of small galaxies. Click on the picture to display full size and see each galaxy circled in green.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy

Comet Holmes 7P put on quite a show in 2007. After apparently striking an asteroid, it grew in brightness nearly 1 million times.

Photo Credit: J D Maddy 

Doug Ostroski took this picture of Comet Hyakutake
Back in the Old Days, Doug Ostroski used a film camera to capture this comet. Comet Hale Bopp. The telescope that discovered it was built and owned by our own member Jim Stevens.