Ruler = 5 Arcminutes (= 5/60 Degree). For comparison the Moon is 30 Arcminutes = ½ Degree across.
The old comet Encke is returning - - and will come closer to Earth within a few months. Click for Sky & Telescopes Article .
During late night hours of October 20, 2003 our astronomy students Jeppe, Lars, Sakti, Fie, Lisbeth, Kristian and Christian managed to photograph this very faint comet . Hereby their image (sky conditions, high clouds coming in) :
Ruler = 5 Arcminutes (= 5/60 Degree). For comparison the Moon is 30 Arcminutes = ½ Degree across.
During this image, the distance to planet Earth was 0.482 AU = 72 million kilometers. End of this year, the distance will be around only 0.26 AU.
Click to see the 3D Orbit - requires JAVA
German Images - - from Kometen Stern Freunde.
Comet Enckes history , present and previous images - Gary Kronk Cometography
For free educational applications : If you want to blink our raw images on your own - here are 3 fits files :
Image 6 - look for the faint object at Look position (555, 446) Ra 01 17 23.41 De 41 13 06.4
At the web you may find several free to try out fits viewers - here is one example Maxim
Send email to Astronomy Students and teachers at Amtsgymnasiet i Sønderborg