The Great Comet of 1744, whose official designation is C/1743 X1, and which is also known as Comet de Chéseaux or Comet Klinkenberg-Chéseaux, was a spectacular comet that was observed during 1743 and 1744. It was discovered independently in late November 1743 by Jan de Munck, in the second week of December by Dirk Klinkenberg, and, four days later, by Jean-Philippe de Chéseaux. It became visible with the naked eye for several months in 1744 and displayed dramatic and unusual effects in the sky. Its absolute magnitude – or intrinsic brightness – of 0.5 was the sixth highest in recorded history.[2] Its apparent magnitude may have reached as high as −7, leading it to be classified as a Great Comet. This comet is noted especially for developing a 'fan' of six tails after reaching its perihelion.
C/1743 X1
The tails of C/1743 X1, the Great Comet of 1744, extending above the horizon before sunrise on March 8, 1744
The comet was discovered on November 29, 1743, by Jan de Munck at Middelburg,[3] and was independently sighted on December 9, 1743 by Klinkenberg at Haarlem, and by Chéseaux from the observatory at Lausanne on December 13. Chéseaux said it lacked a tail and resembled a nebulous star of the third magnitude; he measured the coma as five minutes across.[4]
The comet brightened steadily as it approached perihelion. By February 18, 1744, it reportedly was as bright as the planet Venus (with an apparent magnitude of −4.6) and at this time displayed a double tail.
Perihelion, "six tails"edit
The comet reached perihelion about March 1, 1744, when it was 0.2 astronomical units from the Sun.[1] At about this time it was bright enough to be observed in daylight with the naked eye.[5] As it moved away from perihelion, a spectacular tail developed — extending well above the horizon while the comet's head remained invisible due to the morning twilight. In early March 1744, Chéseaux and several other observers reported an extremely unusual phenomenon — a 'fan' of six separate tails rose above the horizon.[5]
The Great Comet on 16 February 1744 over Nuremberg. An engraving illustration of "COMET-STERNS" (Comet-Stars) by astronomer & master engraver Johann Georg Puschner (1680–1749) of Comet Klinkenberg
The tail structure was a puzzle to astronomers for many years. Although other comets had displayed multiple tails on occasion, the 1744 comet was unique in having six. It has been suggested that the 'fan' of tails was generated by as many as three active sources on the cometary nucleus, exposed in turn to solar radiation as the nucleus rotated.[6] It also has been proposed that the tail phenomenon was a very prominent example of the "dust striae" seen in the tails of some comets, such as Comet West and C/2006 P1 (McNaught).
Other observationsedit
Chéseaux, on March 9, was the last known observer in the northern hemisphere to see the comet, but it remained visible for observers in the southern hemisphere, some of whom reported a tail length of approximately 90 degrees on March 18.[6] The comet was not seen after April 22, 1744.
The comet also was noted in Japanese astronomical records in the Nihon Odai Ichiran of the Kanpō era.[7] Researchers have found in Chinese astronomical records that some Chinese observations describe audible sounds associated with the comet, which may, if true, have resulted from the interaction of particles with the Earth's magnetosphere, as sometimes described for the aurora.[8]
Among those who saw the comet was the thirteen-year-old Charles Messier, on whom it had a profound and inspirational effect. He went on to become one of the founding figures of modern astronomy, and later discovered many comets during his observations.
Catherine the Great, then Sophia, also observed the brilliant comet as a young girl as she was travelling to Russia to be wed.[9]
Referencesedit
^ ab"JPL Small-Body Database Browser: C/1743 X1" (1744-03-01 last obs used (2-body dynamics used in orbit determination)). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
^Kidger, M. Comet Hale-Bopp Light Curve, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, accessed 17-11-08
^De Munck, J., Sterrekundige Waarneemingen op de Comeet of Staart-Sterre; Sedert den 29 November des Jaars 1743. tot op den 1 Maart van den Jaare 1744, Amsterdam/Middelburg: Isaak Tirion/Hendrik van Hoekke, 1744.
^Kronk, G. W. Cometography: A Catalog of Comets, I, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999, p. 408.
^Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; or, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland, p. 418. OCLC 5850691.
^Keay, C. Explanation of Auroral Sounds 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Space Weather Agency, accessed 17-11-08
^Robert K. Massie (2012). Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman. Random House Trade Paperbacks. ISBN978-0-345-40877-8.
External linksedit
Orbit Diagram, C/1743 X1 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
January 01, 1970
great, comet, 1744, whose, official, designation, 1743, which, also, known, comet, chéseaux, comet, klinkenberg, chéseaux, spectacular, comet, that, observed, during, 1743, 1744, discovered, independently, late, november, 1743, munck, second, week, december, d. The Great Comet of 1744 whose official designation is C 1743 X1 and which is also known as Comet de Cheseaux or Comet Klinkenberg Cheseaux was a spectacular comet that was observed during 1743 and 1744 It was discovered independently in late November 1743 by Jan de Munck in the second week of December by Dirk Klinkenberg and four days later by Jean Philippe de Cheseaux It became visible with the naked eye for several months in 1744 and displayed dramatic and unusual effects in the sky Its absolute magnitude or intrinsic brightness of 0 5 was the sixth highest in recorded history 2 Its apparent magnitude may have reached as high as 7 leading it to be classified as a Great Comet This comet is noted especially for developing a fan of six tails after reaching its perihelion C 1743 X1The tails of C 1743 X1 the Great Comet of 1744 extending above the horizon before sunrise on March 8 1744DiscoveryDiscovered byJan de Munck Dirk Klinkenberg Jean Philippe de CheseauxDiscovery dateNovember 29 1743DesignationsAlternative designations1744Comet de CheseauxOrbital characteristicsObservation arc71 daysPerihelion0 22 au 1 Eccentricity1 0 assumed Inclination47 Contents 1 Discovery 2 Perihelion six tails 3 Other observations 4 References 5 External linksDiscovery editThe comet was discovered on November 29 1743 by Jan de Munck at Middelburg 3 and was independently sighted on December 9 1743 by Klinkenberg at Haarlem and by Cheseaux from the observatory at Lausanne on December 13 Cheseaux said it lacked a tail and resembled a nebulous star of the third magnitude he measured the coma as five minutes across 4 The comet brightened steadily as it approached perihelion By February 18 1744 it reportedly was as bright as the planet Venus with an apparent magnitude of 4 6 and at this time displayed a double tail Perihelion six tails editThe comet reached perihelion about March 1 1744 when it was 0 2 astronomical units from the Sun 1 At about this time it was bright enough to be observed in daylight with the naked eye 5 As it moved away from perihelion a spectacular tail developed extending well above the horizon while the comet s head remained invisible due to the morning twilight In early March 1744 Cheseaux and several other observers reported an extremely unusual phenomenon a fan of six separate tails rose above the horizon 5 nbsp The Great Comet on 16 February 1744 over Nuremberg An engraving illustration of COMET STERNS Comet Stars by astronomer amp master engraver Johann Georg Puschner 1680 1749 of Comet Klinkenberg The tail structure was a puzzle to astronomers for many years Although other comets had displayed multiple tails on occasion the 1744 comet was unique in having six It has been suggested that the fan of tails was generated by as many as three active sources on the cometary nucleus exposed in turn to solar radiation as the nucleus rotated 6 It also has been proposed that the tail phenomenon was a very prominent example of the dust striae seen in the tails of some comets such as Comet West and C 2006 P1 McNaught Other observations editCheseaux on March 9 was the last known observer in the northern hemisphere to see the comet but it remained visible for observers in the southern hemisphere some of whom reported a tail length of approximately 90 degrees on March 18 6 The comet was not seen after April 22 1744 The comet also was noted in Japanese astronomical records in the Nihon Odai Ichiran of the Kanpō era 7 Researchers have found in Chinese astronomical records that some Chinese observations describe audible sounds associated with the comet which may if true have resulted from the interaction of particles with the Earth s magnetosphere as sometimes described for the aurora 8 Among those who saw the comet was the thirteen year old Charles Messier on whom it had a profound and inspirational effect He went on to become one of the founding figures of modern astronomy and later discovered many comets during his observations Catherine the Great then Sophia also observed the brilliant comet as a young girl as she was travelling to Russia to be wed 9 References edit a b JPL Small Body Database Browser C 1743 X1 1744 03 01 last obs used 2 body dynamics used in orbit determination Jet Propulsion Laboratory Retrieved 2011 07 18 Kidger M Comet Hale Bopp Light Curve NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory accessed 17 11 08 De Munck J Sterrekundige Waarneemingen op de Comeet of Staart Sterre Sedert den 29 November des Jaars 1743 tot op den 1 Maart van den Jaare 1744 Amsterdam Middelburg Isaak Tirion Hendrik van Hoekke 1744 Kronk G W Cometography A Catalog of Comets I Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1999 p 408 a b Kronk p 410 a b Kronk p 411 Titsingh Isaac 1834 Nihon Odai Ichiran or Annales des empereurs du Japon Paris Royal Asiatic Society Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland p 418 OCLC 5850691 Keay C Explanation of Auroral Sounds Archived 2015 09 24 at the Wayback Machine Australian Space Weather Agency accessed 17 11 08 Robert K Massie 2012 Catherine the Great Portrait of a Woman Random House Trade Paperbacks ISBN 978 0 345 40877 8 External links editOrbit Diagram C 1743 X1 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Great Comet of 1744 amp oldid 1223403314, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
