Astronomers tracking Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 report that the near-Earth object continues to break apart, with at least 20 fragments now approaching the planet for a close encounter next month.
In the process of breaking up, pieces of the comet actually have grown brighter as they approach Earth and the sun. In particular, astronomers report, fragment B has brightened by a factor of 15 just since the beginning of this month. This phenomenon signals a possible breakup of 73P-B into even more fragments.
At present, fragment B is glowing like a 9th magnitude star, making it an easy target for backyard telescopes and CCD cameras. Fragment G also has split. Fresh ice exposed by the disruption is vaporizing, causing this fragment also to brighten nearly fifteen-fold since April 2, reaching a brightness of magnitude 12.
Amateur astronomers with backyard telescopes and CCD cameras can monitor the ongoing disintegration. Spaceweather.com is providing sky maps, images and more information on its Web site.
