Comet Ikeya–Seki, formally designatedC/1965 S1, 1965 VIII, and 1965f, was a long-periodcomet discovered independently by Kaoru Ikeya and Tsutomu Seki. First observed as a faint telescopic object on September 18, 1965, the first calculations of its orbit suggested that on October 21, it would pass just 450,000km above the Sun's surface, and would probably become extremely bright.
Comets can defy such predictions, but Ikeya–Seki performed as expected. As it approached perihelion observers reported that it was clearly visible in the daytime sky next to the Sun. In Japan, where it reached perihelion at local noon, it was seen shining at magnitude −10. It proved to be one of the brightest comets seen in the last thousand years, and is sometimes known as the Great Comet of 1965.
The comet was seen to break into three pieces just before its perihelion passage. The three pieces continued in almost identical orbits, and the comet re-appeared in the morning sky in late October, showing a very bright tail. By early 1966, it had faded from view as it receded into the outer solar system.
Comet Ikeya–Seki, formally designatedC/1965 S1, 1965 VIII, and 1965f, was a long-periodcomet discovered independently by Kaoru Ikeya and Tsutomu Seki. First observed as a faint telescopic object on September 18, 1965, the first calculations of its orbit suggested that on October 21, it would pass just 450,000km above the Sun's surface, and would probably become extremely bright.
Comets can defy such predictions, but Ikeya–Seki performed as expected. As it approached perihelion observers reported that it was clearly visible in the daytime sky next to the Sun. In Japan, where it reached perihelion at local noon, it was seen shining at magnitude −10. It proved to be one of the brightest comets seen in the last thousand years, and is sometimes known as the Great Comet of 1965.
The comet was seen to break into three pieces just before its perihelion passage. The three pieces continued in almost identical orbits, and the comet re-appeared in the morning sky in late October, showing a very bright tail. By early 1966, it had faded from view as it receded into the outer solar system.
Many across the world have witnessed the spectacle of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS ... Comet ATLAS (C/2024 S1) ... Such was the case for the Great Comet of 1965, also known as Comet Ikeya-Seki; it was so bright that it became visible during the day near the Sun.
Another example showing us what is possible was CometIkeya-Seki, which survived perihelion 280,000 miles/450,000 miles from the Sun in 1965 and became one of the great comets of the 20th century.
The initial designation of the comet was A11bP7I ...Comet Caveats ... Long-time comet watchers will remember sungrazer Ikeya-Seki, which survived a 280,000 mile pass (just a little over the Earth-Moon distance) from the surface of the Sun ... Comet Ikeya-Seki.
A surprise appearance of a new comet made the April 8th total solar eclipse all the more memorable ... Another was C/1965Ikeya-Seki, which went on to become one of the truly great comets of the 20th century.
A surprise appearance of a new comet made the April 8 total solar eclipse all the more memorable ... Another was C/1965Ikeya-Seki, which went on to become one of the truly great comets of the 20th century.
It was 1954 when Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks last cut a figure across the night sky ... I first became aware of comets when I fell for the stars about 10 years later and saw my first comet, C/1965 S1 Ikeya-Seki , in 1965-66.
Specters of comets have filled the night sky across the eons ...Ikeya-Seki (C/1965 S1) ... But West put on a fine display and reached a peak apparent magnitude of –3, making it the brightest comet since Ikeya-Seki ... How to photograph comets.
COMETS ... Over the last few years, we have been fortunate to be treated to several dramatic comets gracing our skies ... Many great comets throughout history were sungrazers, including C/1965 S1 (Ikeya-Seki), C/1975 V1 (West), and C/2006 P1 (McNaught).
CometIkeya-Seki (C/1965 S1) ... 18, 1965, amateur astronomer Kaoru Ikeya and professional astronomer Tsutomu Seki independently discovered what became the greatest comet of the century, Ikeya-Seki.
