It's now only 4 degrees away from spectacular globular cluster 47Tuc. This is the second largest and brightest GC in our skies (Omega Centauri being the first).
Now's the time to really get those binos out and start looking- you should be able to get both objects within the same field of view thru binoculars, if not, tomorrow night the comet will come even closer at 3 degrees to 47Tuc. It will then go back to 4 degrees the following night. You don't want to miss this gorgeous view!
A WORD OF CAUTION:
As these two objects are so close together, it can be very easy to confuse the globular cluster for the comet through binoculars, . The comet will be to the left of the GC and not as bright- the GC will show a brighter core.
Position -15th Feb 2013, 2100 hrs EST (1100 hrs UT)
No worries Suzy. Here are the charts for tonight taken from Starry Night v6.4.3 I caught Lemmon between the clouds in my 7x50's last night. It was a pleasant view with 47 Tuc in the same field of view.
Tonight it will be just over 3 degrees away from 47 Tuc. I hope you have clear skies. Brisbane is not looking promising for viewing this object or NEO Asteroid 2012 DA14 tonight.
Thought I'd add my two sketches from tonight's close encounter done from my home in Sydney.
The first is of Lemmon using my 8" dob and my 10mm XW giving 80X. I could make out its tail a lot easier than my first viewing of it close to two weeks ago.
The second sketch is a wide field sketch using my 80mm f/5 refractor at 11X with a 36mm Aspheric Hyperion. The field of view here is a tick over the 6 degrees this scope/EP combo gives. Here I've not only managed to fit Lemmon and 47Tuc, but also the smaller globular NGC 362. The SMC alas is overwhelmed by the light pollution of Sydney to be seen. YET, I was still able to catch a glimpse of Lemmon's tail! This really surprised me, but it shows the advantage of a small aperture can have in a light polluted enviroment where the back ground sky glow isn't as intense. I couldn't see the tail in the 8" using low power because of the background sky glow.
I'll do a more detailed write up of the sketches in the Obs Forum sketching sticky.
Alex those are awesome sketches!
And thanks for your report- both are a fabulous contribution on here.
I haven't been able to see the tail yet as cloud has ruined those chances these past few days, but I've been able to throw binos on it between quick gaps. Hubby & I could see there was some sort of colour thru the binos. It didn't look the typical grey that a view normally is, I don't know quite how to describe it but I'd lean towards a dark bluey/grey (just! if you looked hard enough). I could see a teeny elongation a week ago (observing thru my 10" dob) so next time I'll have to try looking harder for a tail as hopefully it'll be a bit brighter then when next I observe it.
A group of us (SNAG) got together last night to find Lemmon, visually, with prime focus photography and guided tracking. We were all struck by the apparent greenish colour. Perhaps it should be called Comet Lime!
how are you getting Starry Night to display Lemmon? I have 6.3.9 but it doesn't appear to have this coment in the database.
many thanks
niko
In the toolbar menu of SN v6.4.3, I click on LiveSky and I then have the option of forcing an update using Update Data Files. Under LiveSky, I also have the option altering the Preferences for Auto Updates.
I then use the flyout menu to access Find and type Lemmon into search. All objects with Lemmon appear and I select Lemmon (C/2012 F6) and check both boxes. This will centre the comet on the screen with a label.
Hope this helps Niko. Is it possible for you to upgrade to v6.4.3 ?
When I purchased my copy of Starry Night Enthusiast it was v6.3 and the upgrade was done over the net for free via Simulation Curriculum.
Stu, a big thank you to you too, mate! The maps you posted on the 15th made it very easy to locate Lemmon. Knowing where the SMC is, it was just a matter of dropping my finder, and BINGO - there it was. No charts, no smart phone. Just knowing where to look. Couldn't get easier,
Stu, a big thank you to you too, mate! The maps you posted on the 15th made it very easy to locate Lemmon. Knowing where the SMC is, it was just a matter of dropping my finder, and BINGO - there it was. No charts, no smart phone. Just knowing where to look. Couldn't get easier,
Cheers,
Mental.
Impossible. Don't you need GOTO, Stellarium etc etc?
Stu, a big thank you to you too, mate! The maps you posted on the 15th made it very easy to locate Lemmon. Knowing where the SMC is, it was just a matter of dropping my finder, and BINGO - there it was. No charts, no smart phone. Just knowing where to look. Couldn't get easier,
Cheers,
Mental.
Thanks Mental. I saw your last sketch of Lemmon - top shelf. I'd upload my efforts but they are rubbish. I blame the poor seeing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_K
Impossible. Don't you need GOTO, Stellarium etc etc?
Thanks Stu, your screen grab came in really handy tonight- had a quick session with my 10x60 binoculars between clouds so I was able to quickly get out there using this map rather than getting into my sky programme, for a look-see after a week of cloud/rain.
Not surprisingly, the comet was affected by the surrounding cloud- very dim (grrr was hoping to find a wee bit of tail), but still awesome to see it nevertheless.
So easy to find now using 47Tuc as the stepping stone- was about 2 bino views diagnonally down from it. Okay, just checked my sky programme, it's 8 degrees so was a good rough guess hehe. For people wanting to know how to measure that, it's about the size of a clenched fist, see "how to measure the sky in degrees in my original post).