It looks as if some part of Comet ISON has emerged from its close encounter with the sun. However, it now looks to be a headless comet. The nucleus of the comet has evaporated and the only thing remaining is the coma and dust tail. It's still possible that ISON will be visible in the evening sky over the next several weeks, but disappointingly it will not be the Comet of the Century we had all hoped for. It will most likely only be visible through telescopes. But that will remain to be seen.

Check out these images from NASA's various solar observatories.
http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/beacon/beacon_secchi.shtml
STEREO Behind shows it best.

In particular this sequence.

http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/browse/2013/11/27/behind/cor2/512/thumbnail.shtml

Looks like a coronal mass ejection is headed right for ISON (Comet ISON in the lower left of the image).. Of course it could be headed in front or behind but will be interested to see what affect it has. Latest word is that ISON could be in trouble and may be breaking up.

http://www.isoncampaign.org/Present

Will be interesting to watch as it gets closer over the next 24 to 48 hours and reaches perihelion on Thanksgiving Day, if it makes it that far. Let's hope it emerges from its close brush with death and emerges in all its splendid glory.

Scott Griswold

I know I speak for all of us when I say this would be the most spectacular astronomical event of our lifetimes...if it pans out.
In late 2013, Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) will make a very close approach to the sun. When it emerges from the back side of the sun to reveal itself in all its glory, it could rival the brightness of Venus in the evening sky.
Read more about it here...
http://tinyurl.com/9d77mvc

Lets get our hopes up on this one. 


-Scott Griswold
Horizons Docent