The Kreutz Sungrazing Comet Group: A Special Opportunity for Visual Comet Hunters?

Abstract

Toward the end of February 1843, people around the world were surprised to see a short dagger-like object following the Sun toward the western horizon (Fig. 16.1). During the following evenings, it emerged into the western sky as one of the most spectacular of comets, initially brighter than Jupiter and sporting an intense tail 60° long (Fig. 16.2). But it was not just its brilliance or spectacular appearance that set this object apart. Once the orbit had been calculated, it was found to have passed an incredibly close 0.005 AU from the center of the Sun. At its closest approach, it was actually closer to the solar photosphere than the tops of some of the prominences!