# Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, where to look for it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2006, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353 "2006-04-12T12:21:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353/1 "2006-04-12T12:21:59Z")
I´ve heard that comet has some potential for a good show this year, but I couldn´t find the coordinates or at least the constellation where it will be (or even if it will be visible from my lattitude). ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353/2 "2006-04-12T12:36:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Even backyard astronomers will be able to take pictures as the mini-comets file through the constellations Cygnus and Pegasus on May 12, 13 and 14. > > Ironically, despite being so close, these comets will not be very bright. The largest fragments are expected to glow like 3rd or 4th magnitude stars, which are only dimly visible to the unaided eye. (from [here](http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060324_broken_comet.html))The “mini-comets” are the fragments that comprise the remains of Schwassmann-Wachmann 3. The [original NASA news release](http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/24mar_73p.htm) links to some [pictures](http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/images/73p/skymap_north_12may06.gif) of [where](http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/images/73p/skymap_north_13may06.gif) to [look](http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/images/73p/skymap_north_14may06.gif). I’m not sure abut latitude, though. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353/3 "2006-04-12T12:45:13Z")
Would it help to just jump up and down in the backyard yelling: **"SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN! SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN! SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN!"**? (Probably not, but it’d be a hell of a lot of fun.) ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353/4 "2006-04-12T13:01:03Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > Would it help to just jump up and down in the backyard yelling: > **"SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN! SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN! SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN!"**? > > (Probably not, but it’d be a hell of a lot of fun.) No way, the neighbours thing I´m bonkers already, I don´t want to give them more reasons. 😃 Cygnus?, I don´t think I can see that one from here, I´ll have to check the charts. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353/5 "2006-04-12T13:49:02Z")
April 11: [Update on Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3](http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_1704_1.asp) > [@](#): > > Two fragments of the disintegrating comet are now visible in small scopes, a third is in reach of larger amateur scopes > … > "In spite of the bright moonlight, both B and C were clearly visible with 20x100 binoculars last evening (April 10.14 UT). The C component had an integrated magnitude of 9.0, while B was just a tenth of a magnitude brighter. > … > The comet fragments are currently in Bootes heading toward Corona Borealis, high in the east by late evening. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353/6 "2006-04-12T17:11:18Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > No way, the neighbours thing I´m bonkers already, I don´t want to give them more reasons. 😃 > > Cygnus?, I don´t think I can see that one from here, I´ll have to check the charts. I think you can see it, but it’ll be low in your northern sky. Does anyone remember the very bright comet that appeared in the Northern Hemisphere around 1995 or 1996? It wasn’t bright enough to be seen amidts the lights of L.A., but we did see it out in Malibu. Quite marvelous, especially after Halley’s Comet being such a dud in 1986. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353/7 "2006-04-12T17:17:05Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > I think you can see it, but it’ll be low in your northern sky. > > Does anyone remember the very bright comet that appeared in the Northern Hemisphere around 1995 or 1996? It wasn’t bright enough to be seen amidts the lights of L.A., but we did see it out in Malibu. Quite marvelous, especially after Halley’s Comet being such a dud in 1986. Hale-Bop? [http://www.roland-harder.de/natur/hale-bop.jpg](http://www.roland-harder.de/natur/hale-bop.jpg) We we in rural Western PA at the time and got some very good looks at it. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-schwassmann-wachmann-3-where-to-look-for-it/352353/8 "2006-04-12T22:58:51Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > No way, the neighbours thing I´m bonkers already, I don´t want to give them more reasons. 😃 Hey. You live in _Uruguay._ Yell in a hoarse piercing tone in a correct German accent _und zere vill be no qvestions._