Nick James
Comets are wonderfully unpredictable objects. The Section covers all aspects of comet observation, both for pleasure and to potentially make a scientific contribution. Visual observations are still very important but making accurate magnitude estimates can be tricky. CCD and DSLR observations offer objective views of comets although analysis of the images can be difficult. In both cases practice and perseverance will pay off and the Section officers can help you climb the learning curve. The increasing use of robotic telescopes at remote locations provides the opportunity to observe comets under better conditions than exist in much of the UK. Non-observers are welcome too and can contribute through research on historical documents or data in libraries and on the internet.
News
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Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
2023 Mar 4
Nick James -
C/2022 E3 (ZTF) finder charts
2023 Jan 4
Nick James -
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) now an impressive morning object
2022 Dec 22 -
Advance notice of a Comet Section meeting on 2023 July 8.
2022 Dec 4 -
Eight outbursts of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in 3 weeks: a new record
2022 Dec 4
Richard Miles
Videos
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Elgin 2022 - Denis Buczynski – Non Professional Comet Observing and Discovery Today
2022 Sep 14 -
2022 One Day Summer Meeting - The BAA Comet Section
2022 Jul 25 -
Comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann
2021 May 13 -
Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE - BAA Weekly Webinar
2020 Sep 16 -
BAA Summer Webinar - Latest news in spacecraft exploration of comets and asteroids
2020 Jul 4
Section Pages
- Comet prospects for 2023
- Comet related resources
- Comet Section email list
- Comet Section publications
- Comphot comet photometry software
- History of the BAA Comet Section
- Submitting drawings and images to the archive
- The Comet Section archive
- Comet Observers
- Observing Guide
- The Comet's Tale
- MISSION 29P
Section Officers
- Director: Nick James
- Visual Observations and Analysis: Jonathan Shanklin
- Secretary: Denis Buczynski
- TA Liason: Guy Hurst
- CCD Imaging Advisor: Peter Carson
- Newsletter Editor: Janice McClean