------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 3079 2015 May 22 18.56UT 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/2014 Q2 (LOVEJOY) This comet passes near Polaris on 2015 May 28 when it should be possible to image the object with a basic camera without a drive on a time exposure and avoid trailing. Reindeer Bouma, in The Netherlands has prepared a chart covering the period from 2015 May 23 to June 2. This chart can be downloaded from: http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro/ The chart contains the track and also reliable comparison stars which are those where the magnitude is underlined. Although the Minor Planet Center has a predicted magnitude of 12.7 for May 28, recent estimates have been much brighter, near magnitude 7.7 so if the comet remains brighter than predictions it should remain possible for visual observers to track it even in binoculars. We would welcome any images of the Polaris pass which can be sent to the editor. Guy M Hurst