Dec 30/31 Meteors and 2 comets

Carl Hergenrother,

This morning I ventured out to observe comets C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) and C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) with 10×50 binoculars. Under a magnitude 6.0-6.2 sky, Lovejoy was easy to see as usual. Highly condensed with a slightly bluish-green 6′ coma, the comet also showed a faint ~1° long tail. I estimated it at magnitude 6.1. LINEAR was harder to see at magnitude 8.5 with a 5′ coma and no detectable tail.

I also observed both comets two nights ago with the Sierra Stars 0.61-m telescope in California.

Comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) on 2013 Dec 30.xx with the Sierra Stars 0.61-m. Credit: Carl Hergenrother.
Comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) on 2013 Dec 30.57 with the Sierra Stars 0.61-m. Credit: Carl Hergenrother.
Comet C/2012 X1 (LINEAR)
Comet C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) on 2013 Dec 30.57 with the Sierra Stars 0.61-m. Credit: Carl Hergenrother.

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The meteors were also active last night. A total of 23 were detected by the SALSA4 camera system.

Obs  Date(UT)      Time    TOT SPO ANT AHY COM DLM DSV
SAL  2013-12-31   12h 20m   23  19  2   2   0   0   0 

SAL - SALSA4 camera in Tucson (Carl Hergenrother)
Time - Total amount of time each camera looked for meteors
TOT - Total number of meteors detected
SPO - Sporadics (meteors not affiliated with any particular meteor shower)
ANT - Antihelions
AHY - Alpha Hydrids
COM - Coma Berenicids
DLM - December Leonis Minorids
DSV - December Sigma Virginids

Published by Carl Hergenrother

I am a professional astronomer specializing in the study of comets, asteroids and meteors. This blog will focus on my professional and amateur work in this field.