Comet seen from Sri Lankan skies

Comet ISON, the brightest comet this year, could be seen in the east of Colombo, Sri Lanka, at sunrise on November 19, 2013. The country’s Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Ministry issued a press release stating that Sri Lankans will be able to view Comet ISON, with the tail stretching away from the direction of the Sun, in the early mornings from November 19 until January 2014.

Amateur Russian astronomers, Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok, discovered the comet in September 2012. They named the comet after the array of telescopes they used to locate it – the International Scientific Optical Network – ISON.

It is travelling close to the Sun. According to the MOTRAE release, ISON would come within about 1.16 million kilometres (724,000 miles) from the Sun on November 28. The heat is expected to be about 2,760 degrees Celsius – hot enough to melt rock and metal – vapourizing the comet and creating a bright tail that would glow in the night’s sky.

The press release said that Comet ISON is likely to survive the Sun’s heat long enough to put on a show for both professional and amateur astronomers. However, it warned the public not to look at the Sun directly when observing ISON during the day.

http://www.dailynews.lk/local/comet-ison-visible-sri-lanka-today#sthash.mQEvXsp7.dpuf

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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