SEEN OVER WEST SEATTLE: Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, approaching peak brightness

Kevin Freitas sent this comet photo in early April; we decided to save it for a stretch of clear nights – which we’re experiencing now!

Kevin wrote: “This is comet 12P/Pons-Brooks as viewed with a small digital telescope from our deck here in West Seattle. This beauty can be seen with binoculars after sunset as it heads out of the inner solar system not to return for 71 years. An app like ‘Night Sky’ or various websites will show you where to look for this green gem currently in our night skies.” In fact, Space.com reports that Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is reaching peak brightness this weekend.

ADDED THURSDAY: From Kevin – “For anyone interested I’ll be down at Emma Schmitz Overlook by 8:30 pm tonight to try to photograph the comet again. Bring your binoculars and let’s see what we can see!” Look for him across from Me-Kwa-Mooks.

burglerbustindad April 17, 2024 (10:45 pm)

WOW

Pelicans April 18, 2024 (3:25 am)

Hey! I remember you! How’s it going?

Andrew April 18, 2024 (6:52 am)

Kevin is cool. This is going to make me go outside to attempt astronomy in Seattle!

K to the F April 18, 2024 (1:10 pm)

Haha, thx Andrew. Astronomy in the Northwest is hard re: weather and dark skies but there’s still plenty to see with just a little effort.
- Andrew April 18, 2024 (2:17 pm)
  
  We are talking about posting up at Me Kwa Mooks on Friday night. It seems like that will be dark and have a good Western exposure towards Taurus. ♉️
  - K to the F April 18, 2024 (3:03 pm)
    
    I plan to be out there tonight by ~8:30 — hoping those clouds over the Olympics dissipate by then.

HS April 18, 2024 (10:44 am)

What? Ah-maz-ing!!

K to the F April 18, 2024 (1:13 pm)

And, fun fact, that image is a series of multiples taken then combined together. The reason the stars are a bit blurred is because I stacked the images together based on the position of the comet which, even over just a handful of minutes, is moving across the sky through our solar system compared to stars in the background.

Sorry, comment time is over.