Originally posted by TomServo
There Is Another One. According to the 2 most recent images (around Dec 15 @ 1600), there is another object just to the right, and trailing the comet. Appears to be about the same distance behind as the other is ahead.

Well, now that more images have been taken, it's apparent that the trailing object I saw (or a least thought i did) is only visible in frames 1618 and 1630, then is gone by the time 1654 was taken. Possible 2 different objects.

This thing is clippin along pretty quick! Also, has anybody considered how large this thing appears to be. According to Wiki:

The comet nucleus of Lovejoy has been estimated to be between 100 and 200 meters in diameter.

I think that's complete bologna. Compare its illumination (I can only assume how this relates to the size of an object) immediately before and after perihelion to that of Mercury (when its on the near side of the sun of course). Just a thought...

Lovejoy 2012 Omen: 13th century prophecy of comet heralding great destruction?

“A comet will be seen in heaven – a star, that is, with a tail or appendage—and this apparition will signify destructions and tumults and hard strifes, and withholding of rains, and dryness of the Earth, and mighty battles, and the flowing of blood upon the Earth of the east, and from beyond the River Harbor it will reach to the very end of the west. And the just and the truly righteous will be oppressed and will suffer persecutions, and the house of prayer will be destroyed.” – Rigord of St. Denis 12th century

Lovejoy, the only sun-grazing comet known to have survived a close encounter with the Sun.

vry interesting..i must say

So if Nasa assumed this was going to burn up in the Sun, but it did not.

How has the orbit changed?

Will it make another pass any time soon. Or are there any other smaller fragments that travel with LoveJoy, that have had their orbits changed?

If you have not seen what happened to Lovejoy this past day, check out other ATS threads on Lovejoy, which I will not duplicate here... Now visible before dawn in the Southern hemisphere, one of the most brilliant comets yet. Absolutely amazing, and the show is just beginning anew. Northerners, this is gonna suck for us unless we take a trip to Sydney.

What an amazing comet this has turned out to be.

A Christmas present from the solar system.

Imagine what the discoverer (Lovejoy) is feeling today. Having his name to this, probably better than most other comets of this last few centuries. It started out so whimpy, and now it is glorious.

The name itself is prophetic. Wow.