Comet Temple-Tuttle (CTT) is a dim unassuming comet the astronomers really only look at once a year. But that once a year has put this small unassuming comet in the history books.

CTT is responsible for some of the finest meteors showers in recorded history, and comes at a time of year when darkness falls early (fall). It's called the Leonids Meteor Shower.  A meteor shower is when the Earth pases through the tail of a comet. From personal experience, one year in Door County our group counted 267 meteors  an hour (meteors are streaks of light, similar to a falling star but not falling, they are really streaking.)

The Deep Impact will provide NASA with information the spacecraft gathers as it nears. Like what exactly is a comet?..... Until now we could only speculate.

 

CTT is dim and depending on your location you may not get to see the actual impact unless you drive south, I live in CHicago and we are travelling  to Kankakee about 2 hours south of Chicago. Now because you may not see the actual comet impact does not mean that it won't be exciting. It still is interesting if you watch the comet up until you lose site then the next night come back and you should be able to see the comet easier because of the impact.

CTT in the days and weeks before have been dim, at the time of impact the comet will intensify it's brightness tenfold, making it much easier to locate.

CTT looks like a fuzzy cottonball, in binoculars or a telescope. You will not be able to see CTT with the unaided eye.

At around 6 hours UT...... Go figure that one out, heheheheh. Sorry just joking!

At around 6 hours UT or 12 midnight to us in the midwest CTT will be streaking it's way to Impact.

Located in the constellation Virgo near SPICA which is actually South by Southeast in the night sky. See COMET MAP

Help finding Virgo click here

Now even if you have everything I recommand and even if you know when, where and how to view you may not see the comet.

Unfortunately weather plays a large factor in astronomy if there are clouds we can not view, so at the top of my list I will put:

*great viewing weather, then a few friends, although astronomy is a good solo recreation, I recommand a friend or two to help pass the time and rub your neck once in awhile, cuz it does get stiff from looking up!

The darkest skies you can get too. (knowing what to look for in the heart of the city, I don't think I could find CTT, so we are travelling to a dark site).

Then if you have them, a good pair of binoculars, 10 X 50's are good. AND/OR

If you have it a telescope would almost guarentee you to see CTT.

The CTT map, get a copy of the NASA map here

Star Chart to help you find Virgo. GO here This page lets you imput your coordinates (if you know them) or click on the city near you. You can pick a direction in which you are looking too!

 

 

Oakley Young Astronomers Block Club