The Comet's Tale No. 41 Nick James (08 Jun 2022 05:46 UTC)
Appeal for images of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (SW1) Richard Miles (11 Jul 2022 21:37 UTC)

Appeal for images of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (SW1) Richard Miles 11 Jul 2022 21:37 UTC

I would like to request help to detect and image SW1 over the coming days
now that it is well past conjunction with the Sun.

It is a morning object so a low eastern horizon is essential and preferably
transparent sky conditions too! You may have to observe as low as 5-6 deg
above your horizon.

As part of MISSION 29P
https://britastro.org/section_information_/comet-section-overview/mission-29p-centaur-comet-observing-campaign ,
we follow this comet through as much of its apparition as possible. During
its last solar conjunction in 2021 May, it was only out of sight for 60 days
and our successful coverage spanned 333 days at that time. Over the next 7
days its solar elongation will increase from 20 deg to 25 deg during which
time it should become accessible for some observers.

We are especially interested in an early recovery this time because late
last September it exhibited its brightest outburst for >40 yr, such that
before it finally disappeared from view on April 25, it had not had a strong
outburst for some 213 days. There is a good chance the comet has remained
quiescent since it was last detected so an early recovery this month will
set some limits as to whether it has had a strong outburst whilst out of
sight from the Earth.

Post any successful reports here and I shall then follow up and communicate
off-line.

Richard Miles

P.S. JWST is scheduled to observe SW1 next February/March as part of a
programme to study active Centaur comets.