What is the gold standard method for confirming the identity of a known, bright comet using external records?
Answer
Comparing its position to its published orbital data, known as the ephemeris.
If an observer suspects they have seen a known comet making an apparition, the most reliable method of confirmation involves referencing established astronomical data. Professional surveys and telescopes constantly track these objects, producing published orbital data known as the ephemeris. By comparing the object's current apparent position in the sky with these precise coordinates, an observer can definitively confirm if the visual observation corresponds to a currently tracked, known comet making its visible pass.
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