Last Updated:
2017 Jan 15 15:49 UTC
Source file:
1998comets.txt
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55P/Tempel-TuttleThis famous comet is the parent of the Leonid meteor stream. In 1998 January it passed near to the Earth for the first time since 1966. For a time it was moving rapidly across the sky at almost 1000 arcsec/hr. In November each year the orbit intersects that of the earth and some of the comet's debris become meteors as they hit our atmosphere.David Strange obtained this image on 1998 January 6 at 0121. It is the result of four stacked 40s images taken with an SX camera at the focus of a 0.50-m, f/4 telescope. By 1998 January 15 the comet was moving at almost 900 arcsec/hr when Nick James obtained this image using an SX camera and a 0.30-m Newtonian. By 1998 January 26 the comet had slowed to 460 arcsec/hr moving almost due south. This MPEG movie is made from the same raw frames and it clearly shows the comet's movement. Martin Mobberley imaged the comet using his new 0.30-m Meade LX200 and an ST-7 CCD. The image was obtained on 1998 January 31 at 2053UT. 69P/TaylorThis CCD image was taken by Nick James using a 0.30-m, f/5.25 Newtonian on 1998 February 21 at 2312.103P/Hartley 2This CCD image was taken by Nick James using a 0.30-m, f/5.25 Newtonian on 1998 February 22 at 1843.Comet C/1998 H1 (Stonehouse)This comet was discovered visually by Patrick Stonehouse on 1998 April 22. This CCD image was taken by Nick James on 1998 April 28 using a 0.30m Newtonian and SX CCD. It is a composite of four 30s exposures. He obtained a further image using the same equipent on 1998 May 17.Comet 21P/Giacobini-ZinnerThis comet is the parent of the Draconid meteor shower and it gave rise to enhanced activity on 1998 October 8. This image was obtained by Nick James on 1998 May 29. It is a composite of ten 60s exposure taken with a 0.30-m Newtonian. The comet had brightened by 1998 July 1 as shown in this image taken between 2214-2235UT. Considerable further brightening and a prominent tail are shown in this image taken on 1998 September 21. Similar features are visible in this image by Martin Mobberley taken on 1998 October 14. A considerable tail had developed by 1998 October 25 when Martin obtained this image.Comet C/1998 K5 (LINEAR)This unusual comet is very highly condensed and so it is quite easy to see visually in a moderate telescope. This image was obtained by Nick James on 1998 July 1. This frame is the result of ten 60s CCD exposures taken between 2313 and 2324 UT.Comet C/1998 M5 (LINEAR)This image was obtained by Chris Spratt on 1998 July 25 using a 10 cm, f/5.4 refractor and a 75 sec exposure. Martin Mobberley also imaged it on 1998 September 21 using his 0.49 m Newtonian.1998 QP54 (LONEOS-Tucker)This object was identified as a comet by Roy Tucker whilst performing a program of asteroid astrometry. The object had originally been classified as an asteroid by the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Object Search. This image was obtained by Nick James on 1998 October 14 when the comet was around 16th magnitude.Comet C/1998 T1 (LINEAR)This faint comet is another of the LINEAR discoveries. This image by Martin Mobberley was obtained on 1998 October 25.C/1998 U3 (Jager)Michael Jager discovered this comet on Technical Pan film exposures taken on 1998 October 23. Observers reported a 1-2 arcmin coma with condensation and a tail several arcmin long in p.a. 275-281 deg. This image by Nick James was obtained on 1998 October 26 when the comet was around 13th magnitude. The comet had brightened somewhat by 1998 November 14 when Denis Buczynski obtained this image.Comet C/1998 U5 (LINEAR)This faint comet is another of the LINEAR discoveries. This image by David Strange was obtained on 1998 November 10 at 2246. The image is a composite of four 40s exposures taken with a 0.50m, f/4 Newtonian. By late November the comet was much brighter than expected, this image taken on 1998 December 6 shows quite a nice tail. Martin Mobberley also obtained an image on 1998 December 6 using a one minute exposure. |
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