This month there will be a visible comet in the skies. 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak is a comet approximately 1.5km in diameter with a period of about 5.5 years. The last time it reached perihelion it was not visible because it was on the far side of the Sun from Earth. Previous to that apparition it only became 10th magnitude in 2006; to be seen in telescopes. However, this year it may become brighter than 7th magnitude. This will allow it to be easily seen in a common set of household binoculars.
Let's discuss how to find it. The first map shows the comet's progression from January to the end of March. As you can see it goes right through the spoon of the Big Dipper.
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| 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak: January 30 - March 26, 2017 |
The next map shows its progression when it will be closest to the Earth and at its brightest throughout April.
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| 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak: March 26 - May 5, 2017 |
The easiest time to find it will be on April 2 when it will be at its brightest and about half a degree from the naked eye star Alpha Draconis (Thuban). The comet will fit into the same field of view as Thuban using a telescope with a moderate focal length eyepiece. Thuban and the comet will easily fit into the same field of view with a pair of binoculars from April 1-3. Provided below are star maps for April 2, 2017.
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| 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak: April 2, 2017, Zoomed Out |
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| 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak: April 2, 2017, Zoomed In |
This area of the sky should be easy to find. Look for the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. The spoon end of the Little Dipper will point to the second star in the handle of the Big Dipper. About halfway in between will be a a naked eye star. This is Alpha Draconis -- your target. Using binoculars or a telescope put this star into your view on April 2 and you should see the comet. This is likely to be the brightest comet of 2017 so I hope you have the opportunity to see it. When the weather gets better I'll give it a shot earlier in March when it is hanging around Ursa Major's back paws. Interestingly it will be in the same telescopic field of view as two Messier Objects: M97 and M108 on March 22. If the weather cooperates it would be an amazing view right under the spoon of the Big Dipper.
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