Comet Information and the International Comet Quarterly (ICQ) (original) (raw)

Primary and secondary information on comets and observing comets:

This is a key place to begin looking for useful and accurate information regarding news, observations, orbital data, designations and names, and good links regarding comets and related topics [sponsored by the _International Comet Quarterly (ICQ)_]. (Quick aids: Site map 1/Site map 2 (under revision))

Click here for recent news regarding comets.

• ICQ published material onlinefrom the printed ICQ journal and supplementary articles.
• Astronomical headlinesfrom the publications of the CBAT and MPC regarding comets and other objects.

The new BIST comet-observing program.

• Currently-observable comets:ephemerides, elements, and links to magnitude estimates
  • The most recent observation of each recently observed comet (see these notes).
  • Recent comet magnitude estimates
• The brightest comets seen since 1935.
  • The brightest comets of the last two centuries: John Bortle's "Bright-Comet Chronicles" are now available at this website.
• Primer on Comet Names, Comet Designations, Comet Nomenclature
  • Correspondence of Old- and New-Style Designations
  • Permanent periodic-comet numbers (new-style), inalphabetical order (including the old name-numerals) or in numerical order (without the old name-numerals)
  • List of Comet Designations and Names
• Recent comets noted to have split
• What is The International Comet Quarterly?

Additional information on comets (and related phenomena):

• Observing comets, and observations of comets
  • Ephemerides/elements for all currently-observable comets
  • Brief introduction to comet magnitudes/photometry
    * Definition of comet "magnitude"
    * Helpful information on observing for contributors
    * ICQ format for contributors
    * Recommendations for reference-magnitude sources (to use for comet-magnitude estimates)
  • The ICQ Comet Handbook, a special annual publication giving orbital elements, ephemerides, predicted brightnesses, and (starting with the 2007 edition) observability/elongation diagrams for comets.
  • The 1997 edition of the ICQ Guide to Observing Comets is now out of print, but we hope to have a revised editionavailable soon. We have had a great many requests for this popular item.
  • How to Report a Comet Discovery
• Lists and Plots regarding Comets
• Glossary of comet and astronomical terms
• Index to the CBAT/MPC/ICQ pages (under revision)
• Recommended links to other Websites that contain useful and original comet (and some meteor) material/information
• Recommended publications to general information on comets

Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs)

• Thoughts on why the term "Kuiper Belt" is inappropriate for TNOs.
• Thoughts on the Status of Pluto.

• Information on atmospheric fireballs (bright meteors) and meteorites
• Information on the scourge of light pollution, and what you can do to help make the sky a better place to view comets in! Some pages were produced and made available here because of the prominence of this problem to cometary observers.

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Further information is available via e-mail fromicqcsc(at)eps.harvard.edu

New England Light Pollution Advisory Group (NELPAG)