How to Report a New Comet
- 1). Study past comets, including their speed, location, brightness and morphology, and compare these findings to what you see.
- 2). Examine your comet to see if it's symmetrical or circular. If it is, it is probably a galaxy or globular cluster and not a comet.
- 3). Move your telescope around while looking at the suspected comet. If the comet shifts while you move, it could be the result of a dirty lens or an internal reflection in your optics.
- 4). Look in a star atlas or sky charting program to make sure there isn't a galaxy or star cluster in the same location.
- 5). Track the suspected comet's position against nearby stars. A real comet will move, so its position will change slightly within an hour. Observe your finding several times during the night.
- 6). Check a comet finder's forum and/or a list of newly discovered comets to see if anyone else has seen or reported the suspected comet.
- 7). Report your finding by sending an email to CBAT, or filling out a form on the SOHO Comet finder's page. Report the time and date of your finding, the telescope you used, its physical description and your personal information.