COMETS

"When beggers die, there are no comets seen; But the heavens themselves cry out at the death of princes".

In these famous words, Shakespear gives voice to the fear aroused by the appearance of a comet. As portents of evil, comets would strike terror into the heart of the mediaeval man. Even today, the appearance of a bright comet can cause an outbreak of superstition and doomsday cults. Nothing focuses the attention of the public onto astronomy like a bright comet, and astronomy club membership always registers a large increase following apirition of one of these ghostly visitors.

There is nothing quite like standing out on a dark night watching a bright comet with a long tail arcing gracefully across the sky. Yet although this is the general picture of a comet, the vast majority only appear as a small, faint blob in the telescope. However, even if this is the case, to watch as these visitors from the depths of the solar system brighten and fade away, is facinating. Also comets often do not behave as they are expected. They may suddenly flare up in brightness, or they may suddenly fade. On a number of occasions comets have been observed to split, so the observer does not always know what to expect. One description of comets is that they are like cats. They have tails and they do whatever they want! Add to this the rewards that come with discovering a new comet and it is clear why these objects always remain popular with amateur astronomers.

Useful comet links
  • Gary Kronk's useful comet website

    • Very useful page for general information regarding comets.
  • JPL Small Bodies Data Centre

  • ICQ

    • THE place for submitting comet observations.

  • Asteroid Comet Connection

    • General news items on comets and asteroids.
  • ALPO comet section

  • Observational Astronomy Network

    • Brazil comet section
  • Dutch comet section

    • In Dutch
  • German comet section

    • In English and German
  • Italian comet section

    • In English and Italian
  • Italian minor planet section

    • Includes comet software
  • Seiichi Yoshida's comet pages.

    • Much useful information including comet light curves, orbits and charts. Very useful site for information about past, as well as upcoming, comets. Also software for producing comet light curves. In English and Japanese.
  • British Astronomical Association comet section

  • Comet Orbit Home Page

    • VERY comprehensive compliation of comet orbits. The best that I have found. Very useful!

    Comets of the 1970's

    Miscellaneous
    Comets

    Comet West
    1976

    Comet Bradfield
    1979l

    Comets of the 1980's

    Miscellaneous
    Comets

    Comet Wilson
    1987

    Comets of the 1990's

    Miscellaneous
    Comets

    Comet Hyakutake
    1996 B2

    Comet Hale-Bopp
    1995 O1

    Comets of the 2000's

    Miscellaneous
    Comets

    Comet 2000 WM1
    LINEAR

    Comet 2001 A2
    LINEAR

    Comet 2001 Q4
    NEAT

    Comet 2002 O6
    LINEAR

    Comet 2002 T7
    LINEAR

    Comet 2003 K4
    LINEAR

    Comet 2001 Q4
    Machholz

    Comets of the 2010's

    Miscellaneous
    Comets

    Comet 2011 L4
    PANSTARRS

    Comet 2012 F6
    Lemmon

    Comet 2012 S1
    ISON

    Comet 2013 R1
    Lovejoy

    Comet 2014 E2
    Jacques

    Comet 2014 Q2
    Lovejoy

    Periodic Comets

    Periodic Comets
    1 - 30

    Periodic Comets
    31 - 60

    Periodic Comets
    61 - 90

    Periodic Comets
    91 - 120

    Periodic Comets
    121 - 150

    Periodic Comets
    151 - 300