Waiting for ISON...and getting over the flu, and bad weather.....

Comet ISON, dubbed comet of the century, has been playing coy with us till about a week ago when it suddenly burst to life. it is now following a brightness trend that was predicted in February.  No the comet is not going to hit a brightness magnitude equaling the moon, but bright enough to be a rather nice naked eye object, similar or probably brighter to Comet Panstarrs in March. The weekend I observed Comet Lovejoy, it was still languishing at close to magnitude 8. What a difference a few days make. Two outburst and ISON is now clearly a naked eye object low in the predawn skies from dark sky sites. In fact as of today, ISON might be a big challenge to see since this is the first time it does not rise before twilight happens. I have been unlucky in that I have been down with the flu for a week now (and it sucks...the whole fam is sick!)...so here's hoping that the comet keeps it together when it whips around the sun on the 28th of November and become a spectacular silver dagger gracing out morning skies in December as it begins its trek back into deep space. Experts are predicting it probably will seeing how it is not breaking apart at the moment. But comets do whatever they want so we will just have to wait and see. Stay tuned......