-------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2786      2011 Dec 15 16.53UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074
INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------
COMET C/2011 W3 (LOVEJOY)
Further to the discovery announcement on TA E-Circular 2784, it seems 
certain the object is a Kreutz sungrazer and that it will reach 
perihelion on Dec 16 at about magnitude -6, though this is uncertain. 
Under no circumstances should visual observation be attempted otherwise 
blindness could result.

However the comet is currently visible on the SOHO site in the field of 
the LASCO C3 camera as a vertical bright white streak moving toward the 
centre of the field. The format of the WWW pages has changed several 
times today but assuming you locate the LASCO C3 field and click on it 
from the main page a movie is being presented.

It is not clear whether the comet will survive perihelion.

Guy M Hurst