C/2018 V1 – Comet Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto
Discovered by Don Machholz (12th discovery), Shigehisa Fujikawa (7th discovery) and Masayuki Iwamoto (2nd discovery) on Nov 7 2018. First visual discovery since 332P/2010 V1 (Ikeya-Murakami). Images above from Nov 11 at 0611 UT and 0625 UT respectively, est mag 7.5 in Virgo. Earth distance 98m miles, perihelion Dec 3. Below: Nov 19, 0640 UT; est mag 7.8 with HIP 66927 in Virgo. The comet faded significantly when it re-emerged from solar conjunction in December. [27th observed comet]
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Afternoon Venus
51 days after inferior conjunction, Venus shows a 38% phase at 1328 UT, Dec 16 2018. Apparent diameter 32 arcseconds, Earth distance 47m miles.
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46P/ Comet Wirtanen
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CLOSEST COMETARY APPROACHES
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Faintest observed asteroid, (776) Berbericia
Discovered by Massinger in 1914; mag 12.5 (in cross-hairs); diameter 95 ml, Earth distance 220m miles. Movement apparent on successive nights, Mar 1 and 2 2019. With (x) chi Aur. [36th observed asteroid]
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Latest Sirius sighting
May 10 2019, 2110 UT – sunset occurring at 2116. 300mm lens. The pre-eminent Star was also sighted on the following evening, but not imaged successfully.
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C/2018 Y1 – Comet Iwamoto
Discovered by Masayuki Iwamoto (3rd discovery) on Dec 18 2018. Perihelion at a solar distance of 120m miles on Feb 7 2019. Imaged above (circled) at est mag 8 on Mar 1, 0023 UT; Earth distance 65m miles. With (arrowed) distinctive carbon star S Aurigae, then at mag 10 in its mag 8 – 13.5 cycle. Open clusters M38 – the Starfish cluster – and NGC 1907 also included. Below: widefield image of the comet (crosshairs) with deep-sky objects M36 (M), M38 (S), NGC 1907 (arrowed), NGC 1931 (c), NGC 1893 (N), NGC 1778 (G) and the starfields of central Auriga. Mar 2 2019, 0146 UT. [29th observed comet]
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Partial Lunar Eclipse
38% eclipsed; unfavourable conditions. 2307 IST, Jul 16 2019. Fourth lunar eclipse recorded in these journals.
Ireland's Oldest People 