C/2011 L4

For the Hawaii telescope facility, see Pan-STARRS.

C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)

200px Image of Comet PanSTARRS by Gingin Observatory
Discovery
Discovered by	Pan-STARRS
Discovery date	6 June 2011
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch	20 Mar 2012 (JD 2456006.5)
Aphelion	Unknown
Perihelion	0.30161 AU (q)
Semi-major axis	Unknown
Eccentricity	1.000087
Orbital period	~106,000 yr (Barycentric solution for epoch 2050)
Inclination	84.199°
Last perihelion	10 March 2013
Next perihelion	Unknown

C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) is a non-periodic comet discovered in June 2011 that became visible to the naked eye when it was near perihelion in March 2013. It was discovered using the Pan-STARRS telescope located near the summit of Haleakalā, on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Comet C/2011 L4 probably took millions of years to come from the Oort cloud. After leaving the planetary region of the Solar System, the post-perihelion orbital period (epoch 2050) is estimated to be roughly 106000 years. Dust and gas production suggests the comet nucleus is roughly 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) in diameter.

Observational history

File:Panstarrs-Nasagraphic-640.jpg

For Northern hemisphere observers, Comet PANSTARRS was near the crescent Moon on 12/13 March 2013.

Comet C/2011 L4 was still 7.9 AU from the Sun with an apparent magnitude of 19 when it was discovered in June 2011. By early May 2012, it had brightened to magnitude 13.5, and could be seen visually when using a large amateur telescope from a dark site. As of October 2012, the coma (expanding tenuous dust atmosphere) was estimated to be about 120,000 kilometers (75,000 miles) in diameter. C/2011 L4 was spotted without optical aid on 7 February 2013 at a magnitude of ~6. Comet PANSTARRS was visible from both hemispheres in the first weeks of March, and passed closest to Earth on 5 March 2013 at a distance of 1.09 AU. It came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 10 March 2013. Original estimates predicted that C/2011 L4 would brighten to roughly apparent magnitude 0 (roughly the brightness of Alpha Centauri A or Vega). An estimate in October 2012 predicted that it might brighten to magnitude −4 (roughly equivalent to Venus). In January 2013 there was a noticeable brightening slowdown that suggested that it may only brighten to magnitude +1. During February the brightness curve showed a further slowdown suggesting a perihelion magnitude of around +2.

However, a study using the secular light curve indicates that C/2011 L4 had a "slowdown event" when it was 3.6 AU from the Sun at a magnitude 5.6. The brightness increase rate decreased and the estimated magnitude at perihelion was predicted as +3.5. Comet Halley would be magnitude −1.0 at the same perihelion distance. The same study concluded that C/2011 L4 is very young and belongs to the class of "baby comets" (i.e. those with a photometric age of less than 4 comet years).

When C/2011 L4 reached perihelion in March 2013, the actual peak magnitude turned out to be around +1, as estimated by various observers all over the planet. However, its low altitude over the horizon made these estimates difficult and subject to significant uncertainties, both because of the lack of suitable reference stars in the area and the need for differential atmospheric extinction corrections. As of mid-March 2013, due the brightness of twilight and low elevation in the sky, C/2011 L4 was best seen in binoculars about 40 minutes after sunset. On 17–18 March, C/2011 L4 was near the 2.8-magnitude star Algenib (Gamma Pegasi). On 22 April, it was near Beta Cassiopeiae. On 12–14 May, it was near Gamma Cephei. C/2011 L4 continued moving North until 28 May.

Gallery

• 

  Comets Lemmon (C/2012 F6) and PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4) from Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.

• PanSTARRs And Moon.jpg

  Comet PANSTARRS as observed from Southern California, USA, about 3° east of the new crescent Moon

• Comet C2011 L4 (PANSTARRS).png

  Photo taken 12 March 2013 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, USA.

• Comet C2011L4 PanSTARRS 2013-03-24 in Russia.jpg

  Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) with a fan-shaped tail 2013-03-24 17:00UT in Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Science near the village of Nizhny Arkhyz.

• Comet Pan-STARRS.JPG

  Photo taken 18 March 2013, at Orbetello, Italy).

• C-2011 Comet PanStarrs taken from the Norman Lockyer Observatory on 26th May 2013 by John Maclean.jpeg

  Photo taken by John Maclean at the Norman Lockyer Observatory, Sidmouth, Devon.

• Comet PANSTARRS.png

  Photo of C/2011 L4 taken March 13, 2013 in Southern Texas.

See also

• C/2012 S1 (ISON) – a highly anticipated comet that disintegrated near perihelion in November 2013.

External links

• C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) – Cometography.com by Gary W. Kronk
• C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) – Seiichi Yoshida @ aerith.net
• C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) animated orbit diagram – Shadow & Substance
• Elements and Ephemeris for C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) – Minor Planet Center
• The complete guide to viewing Comet PANSTARR
• The view STEREO-B will have of PanSTARRS in March (Bill Thompson via Twitter account Sungrazing Comets) / C/2011 L4 on 2013-March-09 (entering STEREO/SECCHI HI-1B field of view below the "2013")
• Update on comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) – Remanzacco Observatory (18 May 2012)
• Very quick high-resolution "first look" at PanSTARRS in STEREO HI-1B / 2013-March-10 GIF animation / 2013-March-12 up close (Twitter account Sungrazing Comets)
• Video of Comet Panstarrs seen from Paris
• Don’t let Comets PANSTARRS and Lemmon out of your sight … yet – AstroBob (19 May 2013)