Comet ISON: as of 10/23/13

• Not brightening as fast as originally predicted• Not breaking up either• Currently inside Mars’ orbit, heading around Sun; passes closest to Sun on 11/28• Passes closest to Earth 12/26• Expectation: will survive, likely will be a bright but not spectacular comet

Comet ISON, 10/9/13Photo: NASA (HST)Distance from Earth = 177 M miles

c/ISON 10/13/13 (Michael Jaeger, 8” f/2.8, )

Could c/ISON look like this? We’ll have to wait and see.(c/Hale-Bopp, 1997, 8” Schmidt camera, Michael Jaeger)