C/1999 S4 LINEAR

Although unlikely to match the spectacular display of C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp in 1997, comet C/1999 S4 LINEAR may brighten to naked-eye visibility in July and August as it approaches perihelion on 26 July. It was discovered out near the orbit of Jupiter last September by the Lincoln Laboratory Near Earth Research (LINEAR) minor planet survey and may be visiting the inner solar system for the first time.

In the diagrams below, the trajectory of the comet is plotted at two-day intervals.

July Trajectory

Beginning in the northern constellation Andromeda at the beginning of the month, C/1999 S4 LINEAR dives through Perseus and Camelopardalis before spending most of July traversing Ursa Major. The comet will be circumpolar for many northern observers but is best viewed in the morning during the first half of the month and in the evening during the last half.

August Trajectory

Southern hemisphere observers finally get their chance as C/1999 S4 LINEAR moves into the constellations Leo, Virgo, and Corvus, skirting by the Virgo Cluster of galaxies in early August and then having an interesting encounter with M104, the Sombrero Galaxy, on or about 21 August.

[SkyEye] [88 Constellations]