Christmas Observing at Jodrell Plank

Canon 600D Widefield Camera 30 second exposure at ISO1600 EOS lens at f=18mm. View roughly North East - 24 Dec 2018 - Credit Kurt Thrust

"All the observatory staff are out tonight studying the Comet 46P Wirtanen as it passes close to the bright star Capella (Alpha Auriga). Whilst the team was beavering away under transparent clear skies I managed to obtain the above unusual image.

It has been a busy week here in Lowestoft and for the last two days you could not walk through the extensive grounds of the  Jodrell Plank Observatory for fear of tripping over Robins. This eve, the Jodrell Plank stargazers were very excited and before commencing the night's observing session, we hung-up our thick wool stockings under the Meade 127mm Apo Refractor. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that we have been assessed as 'nice' rather than 'naughty' astronomers. Mrs Thrust is handing out steaming mugs of mulled wine so there is no knowing what we might discover tonight.

 A very merry Christmas to all stargazers worldwide" - Kurt Thrust acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Comet 46P Wirtanen

Comet 46P Wirtanen at perehelion on the 16th December 2018 and 7,220,000 miles from Earth

"Weather has been very poor here on the coast and consequently there has been little astronomical action at the Observatory. Thankfully Mrs Thrust, being both hawk-eyed and ever vigilant, noticed a 'window' of clear sky through the observatory kitchen door at 2:00 UT on the morning of the 16th of December. Dragging on my dressing-gown I raced to assemble a 'Heath Robinson' collection of kit to obtain a photograph however poor. The above two images are the best accomplished on a night of high drama, before the clouds once again dominated the sky." Kurt Thrust - acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

" 46P Wirtanen is a short period comet that returns to our skies every 5.4 years. The comet is thought to have a nucleus of only 1.2 Kilometers in diameter and therefore it is quite surprising that 46P displays such high activity. The comet was first discovered in 1948 by Carl A Wirtanen.  46P was the original target for ESA's Rossetta Mission but because of launch delays, it was redirected to the comet 67P/Churymov-Gerasimenko . During December, 46P might grow in apparent brightness as it travels into the constellation Auriga. On Christmas Eve the comet should be close to the bright star Capella and may be visible to the naked eye". Archie Mendes - theoretical astrophysicist and mathematician.

" I do hope I didn't wake our neighbour, Mr Shrodinger, when I inadvertently tripped over his cat in the dark" sincere apologies Kurt Thrust