Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - discussions

[CometGuy]

Comet McNaught (2006 P1) is now expected to become a very nice comet for observers in the Southern hemisphere in the second half of January. People in high latitudes are favoured for this, so South Island of NZ and Tasmania have front row seats. Positions for the comet are provided here:

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/2006P1_1.html

The brightness of the comet (m1) given in the link above is way too conservative. For instance it gives m1 = 8.1 for December 29, but actual observations indicated m1 = 3.9, so it is currently running 4 magnitudes ahead of the predictions! Here is an image that was made just this morning deep in twilight (from the northern hemisphere).

http://kometen.fg-vds.de/pix/2006P1/2006P1_30122006.htm

The comet should first come visible very low in the SW evening twlight sky around January 18th, although experienced observers may get it as early as January 13th depending on the actual brightness. During these times it will be only visible low in twilight and a clear unobstructed western sky is essential. Good sky transparency will also help greatly as the comet will hover just above the horizon. It is also hoped a bright tail may stretch up into the evening sky.

Fingers crossed this could be the best comet for the southern hemisphere in nearly 11 years!

Terry

[edit by iceman]

Post discussions about the comet in this thread. Use the threads below for images and maps/charts.

- Post your Images and Pictures here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=16333)
- Maps, charts, where/how to find here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=16334)

[h0ughy]

OHHHH maybe one for lostock and beyond!!! this is exciting!!

[fringe_dweller]

Hi Terry,
tassie and NZ also have a front row seat to the antarctic weather systems and longer polar summer days too ;)
P1's progress and future progress has been, and will continue to get my full as possible attention - looking forward to the SOHO C3 images soon :) :thumbsup:
but we are definately due for a really good one after 11 years eh - the odds should just get better and better!?

HNY!

[CometGuy]

The other interesting point is around January 13-15 the comet is between us and the sun. This situation (small phase angle) can, depending on the composition of the comet, cause forward scattered of sunlight in the comets dust. This in turn temporarily enhances the brightness as has happen to a few comets like Comet Skjellerup-Maristany in 1927 and a few years ago with Comet Machholz 96P in SOHO. It can amount to as much as 5 magnitudes brightness enhancement! There is no guarantee this would happen, so I'll stop right there in case I raise too many hopes :).

Terry

[alan meehan]

Go on Terry raise some hopes ,thats a good picture on the links,we could use a good comet for 2007,

[fringe_dweller]

I remember at one stage JB talking on c-ml about a period where the ion tail (no head) could be possibly be observed as a bright laser beam type thing poking over the horizon (at a low angle) for a brief time during perihilion, was this also forward scattering/same time? sorry i have forgotten what he said :doh:

pity about the new moon waxing in evening sky for latter part of jan :rolleyes:
looking forward to it becoming circumpolar/allnighter in feb also :thumbsup:

[iceman]

Excellent news! Will have a look during IISAC, if it's visible!

[Ric]

Thanks for the info Terry, I'll definitely have a look for this one.

Sounds great

[tornado33]

Weather permitting I will attempt (carefully) observing it at perihelion in daytime round Jan 12 if weather permits. Its orbit has been entered into my Argo Navis in readiness. Ive heard of some sun grazers becoming extremely bright round perihelion (if they survive that is) to be seen in daytime shielding ones self from the suns glare
Scott

[CoombellKid]

Scott,

Could be interesting to try, SNP places it a lil over 5 degrees west of the
Sun at around 2pm on the 14th. This appears to be it's closest aproach
form our perspective, but I'm not sure whether closest is best.



regards,CS sunny days

[CometGuy]

Just an update, David Moore in Ireland spotted the comet easily in 20x80 binoculars on january 1 and estimated the comet at magnitude 2.5-3.0. This observation was made with the comet just 3 degrees above the horizon in very bright twilight (sun 9 degrees down).

Scott, make sure the sun is obscured by a building and ensure there is no sunlight shining into the tube (it will scatter light and greatly reduce contrast). John Bortle determined mag -1.5 as the minimum brightness for daylight detection near the sun, but it takes some practice to achieve this. In the nineteenth century there were a few skill visual observers that were able to follow these objects close to the sun (these same observers followed planets through solar conjunction), but few people do this these days.

Terry

[spacezebra]

thanks for the heads up - made a note in my observing journal.

Cheers Petra

[tornado33]

Thanks Terry. I will also clean the primary mirror, (10 inch f5.6 newtonian) its recently been recoated but has some light dust on it. Will also put on my foot long light/dew shield. Got to hope for nice blue dust free skies too. Lets hope it flares in brightness nicely for us as well.
Scott.

[CometGuy]

I've seen some predictions on foward scattering enhancement of the comet and although the amount is very uncertain it predicts the peak effect will be on January 14, with some possible enhancement still remaining as late as January 19. Interestingly the comet is just over a degree away from Mercury on January 14 (which is mag -1). Another safer possibility for observing the comet may come just after sunset the following evening when it is better placed for observation, and hopefully nearly as bright.

Terry

[tornado33]

The mirror of my scope is now pristine, to keep glare down. 3 days before the transit of venus, I observed venus as a very thin crescent, so close to the Sun, that sunlight was falling on the primary mirror, and focussing to a point roughly 1/2 way between the secondary and the tube, actually that was ideal as it wasnt going to damage anything. If it was a bit further out it would have fell on the tube and possibly damaged the paint on the inside. I had the drive locked on securely to prevent any chance of the focussed sunlight falling on the secondary (either blinding the observer or wrecking the camera) I will again be especialy careful when trying for this comet. I only hope to see some clear skies, cant believe the amount of cloud this last month. It will be real exciting to get a clear sky at perihelion day and have the comet brighten into negative magnitudes :)
Scott

[tornado33]

Update:
Totally optomistically I tried to observe it in daytime today without success. Its far too early in the sequence but thought Id have a practice run. I set up the scope accurately polar aligned, put on solar filter, and aligened the Argo navis off the Sun. The comet is still a distance north, all I could see between clouds was blue sky. To test the setup I then dialled up venus, and it was near centre of field, so I am confident the comet was well in the FOV of my 16mm nagler on the 10 inch scope, but no sighting. Will keep trying day after day as it plunges sunward. Gee its closing on the Sun fast too.
Scott

[venus]

A 'mag 2' late January. I can see the IIS'ers at Lostock climbing the hill for a better view;)

[CometGuy]

More updates...

Haakon Dahle from Norway just spotted the comet on January 3 with the naked eye and estimated the coma as mag 1.5. Although his latitude is optimal for viewing the comet, it was still very low in bright twilight. A number of observers also described the coma as extremely condensed and blazingly bright. Michael Jaeger, also on January 3, made a magnificent image clearly showing a small brilliant coma and intense dust tail sitting amongst distant clouds.

An article I read by noted comet researcher, Joe Marcus, is predicting that forward scattering will enhance the brightness by 2 magnitudes Jan 13.0-15.5. I don't think there is much doubt the comet will go negative magnitude, its now a question of how negative!

Scott, wish you well. I haven't checked up its position but I Mercury might be a good test target to practice on.

Terry

[Sausageman]

Don't forget that IISAC is in a valley, I would love to find a comet, but is it going to visible from our position over the weekend?
I have only ever seen one comet, and would love to see another.
I have never seen a naked eye one, in the wrong place at the wrong time always.

I will stay hopeful though.

Mike.

[h0ughy]

yes the camp is in the valley but not the way in. Very high on the mountain:thumbsup:

[iceman]

I've never seen a naked eye comet either, well not a bright one. Linear was mag 4 or something, but I've never seen a negative mag comet! I can't wait!

[sheeny]

It'll be a climb the hill job to view from Lostock, that's for sure!

Al.

[tornado33]

I found Mars in daylight today (round 1pm),easily seen, though its now some distance from the Sun so the sky isnt as bright where it is. Will keep trying for the comet each day it is clear from now on. Also tried imaging the area where the comet is with my infrered filter (800nm cutoff) Nothing there thus far. Looks like it may get very bright round perihelion now though, it will get a lot closer to the Sun than it is now :)
With the back scattering it seems it may get even brighter just AFTER perihelion?
Scott

[dcnicholls]

Interesting and encouraging projected brightness curves:

http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2006P1/2006P1.html

DN

[dcnicholls]

That's starting to remind me a lot of Ikeya-Seki in 1965. The Dahle and latest Jäger images are what Ikeya-Seki looked like in the pre-dawn.

Something I wrote about it 10 years ago: http://www.home.aone.net.au/~byzantium/comets.html

DN

[jjjnettie]

Lucky this is happening during the school holidays, because if the cloud and rain persist, I'm packing the family up in the car and going comet hunting.
I'm excited.

[matt]

I'm a bit disappointed I can't find it in Starry Night Enthusiast 5.

I've downloaded the latest comet info:shrug:

[dcnicholls]

I see it in SN 5.8.2 Pro Plus. Set the time for 8.30pm, the date for 15 Jaunuary, turn off the Daylight (control-D), and use the Find panel to find McNaught (C/2006 P1) under the Comets list. Set the view to the South West horizon.

You need to find and double click on McNaught and turn off daylight before it shows.

BTW, see PM.

DN

[davidpretorius]

great thread, thanks for the heads up.

go tassie!

[matt]

Hmmmmm

There's no McNaught in my comet list.:(

Thanks for the info, though

[dcnicholls]

Matt,

If you're on a PC, located in C:\Program Files\Starry Night xxx\Sky Data there should be a file called comets.txt (where 'xxx' is your version of SN).

My copy is 30KB in size and does include an entry "C/2006 P1" - there are lots of McNaught comets as Rob is an NEO asteroid researcher.

PM me if you can't find C/2006 P1 in your file, and I'll email you the text file.

If it is there, in SN, try doing a Find on C/2006 or C/2006 P1 in the find panel search box.

DN

[matt]

David

My comets.txt list does conatin a few references to McNaught but none that I can find with that designation.

The weird thing is when I do a SN find... there's not a single McNaught object in there!!:shrug:

So it's in my Sky Data folder but somehow not being recognised in SN??

[dcnicholls]

I seem to recall some trick was required to see comets correctly. You might take a look at the SN support page at http://www.starrynight.com/support/support_trio/
or the forum at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/StarryNight/

They're usually pretty helpful.

DN

[dcnicholls]

Or try this:
http://www.starrynight.com/support/support_trio/index.php?action=kb&article=82

I didn't have the file they refer to but you might.

DN

[dcnicholls]

And make sure comets are enabled: in the Options panel > Solar System ensure the Comets box is ticked.

DN

[matt]

Yep. The comets are enabled. I can see quite a few of them, but just no McNaught:sadeyes:

[fringe_dweller]

the great thing is if this does indeed turn out to be another Ikeya-Seki/Comet Skjellerup-Maristany or -8 mag with a 1 degree in daylight tail type comet - a simple phone camera would probably be suffice to get a nice widefield piccy when at its best :) is it (heavan forbid) tripod time!!! (!?) been waiting for a speccy tripod shot comet for a long time now :rolleyes:

[tornado33]

That Jan 3 shot looks bright but it was taken with a spiffy 8 inch ASA astrograph. It was around 0.4 AU's from the sun, at perihelion it will be only 0.17 AU. I remember Comet Halley, I recovered it on the same morning it was officially recovered just past perihelion, very low in the east twilight sky, it looked about as bright as venus and stellar like, kinda like Venus but with an extended coma around it. Im hoping this comet will also not only brighten, but become stellar like, if so it could be viewable in broad daylight.

I tried to view it again today, but not possible yet.

Regarding positions, Star Atlas pro has it listed when I got a recent comet elements update online (easy as clicking a single button in Star Atlas pro). I also compared its given position with what the Argo Navis indicated, and they agreed to within a few seconds of arc :)
Scott

[ballaratdragons]

This is getting very exciting, hearing the possibilities of it's Magnitude!

Keep the info coming please :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

To those attending Lostock, I will try to arrange for us to be able to access the mountain top to the east that over looks the area. That should give us an excellent horizon to take some happy snaps from the 17-20th January.

Terry given the evening sky and sunset, what camera settings would be generally recommended to start with?

[CoombellKid]

I tell ya I'm as keen as mustard, just wish we had some favourable weather,
thanx for post'n jjjnettie

regards,CD sunny days

[Outbackmanyep]

Hey Guys!
Been trying to spot it but cant as yet! Tried 2 nights ago but i'll try again tonight weather permitting!
I used my 7X50 Bins and couldnt find it......might take my camera just in case!
Been getting reports that its visible but has a 14 degree elongation which makes it hard to detect, also theres been a little trouble estimating magnitudes due to atmospheric extinction.
Keep you all informed !

Cheers!
:D

[CometGuy]

Nice shots from norway, love the 1 second shot over the forest. There is also a really nice shot that I saw posted on cloudynights forums.

Outbackmanyyep,

Are you in the northern hemisphere at the moment? That is the only place it is currently visible from.

Houghy,

Its hard to give you exact settings, it depends on so many variables. For the deep twilight shots I would try to go to lowest ISO possible, set a fast aperture, then use AV mode. If you are using a tripod, work on 4 seconds maximum exposure at 100mm focal length. Last night I was testing with the 200 lens at f2.8 and it was metering about 1 second at ISO100 at about the equivalent location to the comet about January 17. I'd also attempt some longer, wider angle shots to show the tail pointing up from the western horizon.

I also attempted to image the comet at 2pm today with the 200 2.8 lens. With a stack of 8 x 1/1600 sec exposures Venus was very obvious, and the stellar limiting magnitude was 0.. I then tried 56 exposures at the comet's position and nothing was seen, but the comet would have had to have been at least as bright as mag -0.5 to be detected (you loose about 1.5 magnitudes in detection because the comet's light is more diffuse than a star).

Terry

[dcnicholls]

Those who aren't members of the Yahoo comets group may not have see John Bortle's comment likening a feature already apparent in Comet McNaught to one usually seen in Great Comets:

"I call particular attention to the Jager/Rhemann images of January 5th, where the enlarged pictures clearly showing a classic "shadow of the nucleus" down the center of Comet McNaught's inner tail. To my knowledge, this is the first comet to display this wonderful feature in some time (a classic feature in many past Great Comets). Over the next few days, I would anticipate that this apparent dark "void" will also
become a distinct visual feature of the comet when viewed with optical aid in the evening twilight."

A subsequent vusual report has already confirmed this feature. And a coma magnitude of 0.0 - going negative, possibly tracking to -3!

DN

[Tamtarn]

Thanks Glen for the map for those of us in Melbourne

[dcnicholls]

See also thread Comet Mc Naught http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=16272

The comet may be 5 magnitudes brighter than predicted, and is showing some Great Comet features.

Mike, should we try to keep a single thread on Comet NcNaught? This could just be a biggie.

DN

[davidpretorius]

thanks glen, this is getting exciting

[Orion]

Wow that comet looks beautiful!

[venus]

Looks pretty much like my prediction of astronomers scurrying up a hill will come true:astron:

[ballaratdragons]

If the clouds ever go away in time to see it at it's best :sadeyes:

[tornado33]

Excellent work. No wonder I couldn't image it I only took 3 shots to stack the other day. How did you stack yours, wouldn't the comet in each image be too faint to align?
Scott

[h0ughy]

HAHAHAHA thats throws down the gauntlet to Scott Alder!!! Come on Scotty Serve NSW proud!!!!! GEt that AN going mate

[CometGuy]

Houghy,

LOL. I better not mention I'm originally from NSW :)

I reckon Scotty will bag it visually soon. Photographing its one thing, seeing it with your own eyes is another! Phil Creed - a noted observer in the states - just estimated mag -0.6 visual, its certainly getting bright.

Terry

[jjjnettie]

LOL
Not naturalized yet Terry?

[Orion]

Go Scotty, Go!:cool: :party2:

[ballaratdragons]

I had no chance of finding it. Still cloudy from horizon to horizon :(

[Astroman]

I only just got the email regarding your image Terry, was that REALLY taken during the day?? man that nucleus must be amazingly bright. Cant wait till it becomes more visible.

Congratulations ona very tough target.

[glenc]

COMET C/2006 P1 (McNaught)
Total-magnitude and coma-diameter estimates (visual unless otherwise noted):
2007
Jan. 7.68, 0.5*, 2' (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, 7x50 binoculars);
7.48, -0.5:*, -- (D. W. E. Green, Rowley, MA, 7x35 binoculars; alt. 4 deg, bright twilight; bright, small head with short tail);
7.30, 0.0:*, 1' (N. Biver, Meudon, France, 7x50 binoculars; 0.4-deg tail; alt. 5.7 deg; civil twilight);
6.96, -0.6:*, 0'.5 (P. Creed, New London, OH, 10x50 binoculars; alt 1.9 deg; civil twilight);
6.68, -0.3:*, 0'.3 (H. Dahle, Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway, 7x50 binoculars; 0.8-deg tail in p.a. 0 deg.; alt. 1.5 deg.; naut. twilight);
6.28, 0.2:*, 1' (B. H. Granslo, Tryvann, Oslo, Norway, 7x50 binoculars; 1-deg tail in p.a. 0 deg, alt. 2.5 deg.; naut. twilight);
5.72, -0.5:*, -- (D. Moore, Dublin, Ireland, naked eye; 0.25-deg fan tail and 3' coma in 25x100 binoculars; alt. 2.5 deg);

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/icq/CometMags.html

[tornado33]

Thanks Terry, excellent work there. Its overcast today, if clear tomorrow wonder how bright it will be.
Yes Im keen to see it visually, and will try each day its clear
Scott
PS wouldnt it be great if it got as bright as this one
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/1882_R1
It got to mag-17!
it could be seen next to the sun in the day without a telescope!

[CometGuy]

Yep Andrew, that was taken middle of the day.

A quick run home from work, and managed to get the comet again in daylight. Will take a bit of processing this time because high cloud was streaming across the Field of view.

Nobody has got it visually in daylight yet, but it wont be long.

Scott, its hard to predict how much effect forward scattering will be so its hard to predict. If there is minimal effect maybe mag -2 or -3.

1882 R1 passed just 0.006 AU from the sun and is possibly the brightest comet in recorded history.

Terry

[matt]

Wow!:eyepop:

I didn't know it had such high altitude and elongation from the sun.

That's a real shock. I've been looking for it waaaaay too close

[Outbackmanyep]

Ok, my morning attempt was NFG, looks like its out of view for another week or so for me!
Terry Lovejoy's image in daytime was really good to see! You got a good one there Tornado33!
has anyone been able to check visually if its visible in daytime or not? I know its risky but some of us would at least have tried!

Cheers!

[tornado33]

Before fitting the infrared filter (which is bigger than 2 inch and has to be fitted inside the focusser) I used a 16mm nagler to visually search, but the sky was blindingly bright due to the haze. I could see venus easily but I knew it was too bright a sky for the comet today, hence the IR filter was used as IR cuts through haze better.

Will try every clear day though. I predict its probably bright enough now to see visually through a scope if the sky is free of haze (a nice deep blue)
Scott

[dcnicholls]

My grandmother was a teenager when Halley came by in 1910. That passage was a dazzling one, with the comet stretching half way across the sky. But her mother said, "it's very nice, but, oh, you should have seen the comet of 1882"

Ikeya Seki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Ikeya-Seki) - another mag-17 Kreutz sungrazer - will have to do me. It too was visible next to the Sun in daylight at perihelion, though I tried and couldn't see it.

DN

[acropolite]

No doubt about it Terry, You've sure lived up to the CometGuy name...:thumbsup:

[Hipocracy]

Hey all, this is my first post and I am definatly an amateur when it comes to astronomy! Though it has always interested me. I read that the Comet will be visible in the west on the 14th just after sunset. Is this true? Also do the directions posted here (SW and SSW if i remember correctly) refer to night time viewing as well? I'm assuming that will be the best time to see it. I know i will be out every night for a week trying to catch a glimpse :)

[tornado33]

Excellent
According to the ephemeris, it will get nearly 2 mags brighter, so a possibly mag-3 comet, mayby more with foward scattering will be very nice.
Scott

[h0ughy]

PLease pLease please let it get better when we get to see it!!!!!!!!!

[jjjnettie]

Steady Dave, you'll jinx yourself.

[davidpretorius]

am i right in thinking that up until the 12th, it is in beating the sun to set ie rising earlier in the mornning and then reversed after the 12th.

I am up early for saturn tomorrow so will try and spot it

[h0ughy]

:welcome: and you picked a fine time to join;)

go back through this post, and you will find the answers but basically from the 14th onwards it will get higher and also fade, lts hope it doesnt do the latter quickly:thumbsup:

[iceman]

Hi all

Even though I merged 2 threads the other day, I think Glen is right in having separate threads because otherwise the 1 thread will get very large, and people will keep posting "how do I find it" because the thread is too big to find the maps etc.

So i've created 3 threads, please try and keep your posts to the appropriate thread. I may move posts from time to time to keep them on-topic for the thread title.

I've made all the threads sticky, so you'll find them in the top section of the thread listing.

Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - maps and viewing guides (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=16334)

Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - images (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=16333)

Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - discussions (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=16086) (this thread)

Thanks!

[CometGuy]

Just a few interesting notes from Today.

Dennis Di Cicco, saw it visually in Daylight on the 7th January using a 5" Televue refractor. Rob McNaught and Gordon Garradd also made visual observations of the comet today at Siding Springs also using a 5" refractor. Gary Kronk has also been following the comet in daylight in addition to Scott Adler and myself. It was cloudy here so no chance, maybe tommorrow.

Current magnitude estimates seem to put the comet at no less than mag -1, but that will like have increased again by the morning!

Terry

[gaa_ian]

Some great shots on Spaceweather:
http://www.spaceweather.com/
The comet has brightened substantially in just 1 day !
I look forward to seeing it at Lostock :thumbsup: from up on the hill.

[glenc]

Here are some new magnitudes.

COMET C/2006 P1 (McNaught)
Total-magnitude and coma-diameter estimates (visual unless otherwise noted):
2007
Jan. 9.02, -1.0:*, -- (R. A. Keen, Mt. Thorodin, CO, naked eye; alt. 2.5 deg, bright twilight and thin cirrus clouds; short naked-eye tail);
8.66, -1.0*, -- (B. H. Granslo, Nyland, Oslo, Norway, 7x50 binoculars; 3-deg tail; alt 3.9 deg; naut. twilight);
8.26, -1.5:*, 2' (M. Reszelski, Szamotuly-Galowo, Poland, naked eye; alt. 3 deg, bright twilight; naked-eye tail 0.2 deg long);
8.25, -1.2:, 3' (K. Hornoch, Vranov, Czech Republic, naked eye; 0.5-deg tail; very low alt., dawn);
7.90, -1:, & 2' (Y. Nagai, Gunma, Japan, 11x80 binoculars; 0.2-deg tail; alt. 2.8 deg; civil twilight);
7.48, -0.5:*, -- (D. W. E. Green, Rowley, MA, U.S.A., 7x35 binoculars; alt. 4 deg, bright twilight; bright, small head with short tail);
7.30, 0.0:*, 1' (N. Biver, Meudon, France, 7x50 binoculars; 0.4-deg tail; alt. 5.7 deg; civil twilight);
from
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/icq/CometMags.html

[glenc]

Great Comets in History
http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?great_comets
A list of bright comets.
There have been 7 comets with magnitudes brighter than 0 since the telescope was invented according to this list.

[dcnicholls]

Interesting, but the magnitude list is a bit deceptive: "in a dark sky". How defined? Ikeya Seki's nucleus was easily brighter than mag 0 when the sky was quite dark, with just a trace of twilight on the eastern horizon, on Oct 31 1965, yet it's listed as mag 2, and on Oct 14, 7 days before(!) perehelion, so I think whoever compiled the list was a a bit arbitrary. Take with a grain of salt.

[venus]

If this quote is anything to go by then we are in for a magnificent display,http://www.spaceweather.com/ if only those clouds would go....

""I saw the comet easily with my naked eyes," he adds. "I hope everybody goes outside to see it."

To see Comet McNaught, a clear view of the horizon is essential. In the morning, go outside and face east. The comet emerges just ahead of the rising sun. In the evening, face the other way--west. The comet pops out of the western twilight as soon as the sun sets. Binoculars reveal a pretty, gaseous tail."

[CometGuy]

DN,

I agree that list is is a bit arbitrary and there are lot of errors/omissions. Just adding to DN’s comments where are the Great Comets of 1947, 1948, 1957 (Both of them!) and 1962 (Seki-Lines)? Hyakutake was definitely brighter than mag 0 and Comet 1861 J1 (Tebbutt) was probably closer to mag -2 to -3 in a dark sky.

Just noticed new recent observations put the comet at mag -2 to -2.5, not sure how reliable they are. But it sure is getting bright!

Terry

[dcnicholls]

Agreed. There are a few obvious gaps!

I notice the curves on Seiichi Yoshida's page at http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2006P1/2006P1.html show the observations trending well above the model, even ignoring one outlier.

Looking good.

DN

[fringe_dweller]

my pet peeve would have to be about the lack of recognition of southern comet C/2000 WM1 (LINEAR) as a 'brilliant' comet after its outburst end of jan 2002
see Gary Kronk's page http://cometography.com/past_comets.html - I mean C/2002 X5 (Kudo-Fujikawa) gets a mention!!! what the!! but not wm1! (and a few others either) bizarre! seems if certain NH notables didnt see it and it wasnt widely observed (most of the east coast of oz had terrible conditions during its best period) - then it didnt happen!
see this wide field 2.5 min single shot we took - using film! with 89% illuminated moon close by on 1st feb 2002.
- hmmm resembles something happening now i cant quite put my finger on it ;) http://southern-x.org/g-wm2/gallery-pic2.html

Terry's high powered CCD shot of same comet at around that time is one of my fave southern comet shots ever - also the low power telescopic views of this comet at the time of outburst and shortly after, were freakin unbelievable! never been matched since - highly and intricately detailed dusty comet - what else could ya ask for? of course C/2002 V1 (NEAT) was pretty special too - see avatar - but unfortunatly didnt have the elevation that wm1 had at its best.
and i still reckon wm1 was brightr than 2.5 mag - more like 2 easy
oh well maybe we just imagined it?

[CometGuy]

Kearn,

We should keep wm1 a secret to ourselves! The biggest thing about wm1 was the suprise factor, it sat around magnitude 6-7 for a month then suddenly jumped to magnitude 2-3! The brightness around the head and tail were very impressive, and definitely one of my observing highlights.

I think Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake were still fairly fresh in our minds though which may have some effect on WM1's standing. If it had occured in the early nineties it would have been hailed once of the finest since West's of 1976!

Terry

[fringe_dweller]

:lol: hehe! it sure feels like it was a secret comet Terry!
I think you also once mentioned the fact that if it had been an evening comet (at that point in its apparition), rather than a morning one, its best views memory would not be shared by so few people, aint that the truth! :)

...anyway back to the beast at hand :-))))) ..bring it on P1!

[CometGuy]

Timo Karhula from Sweden just posted a daylight observation made with 10 x 50 binoculars. In his words:

"I had been plagued by bad weather the entire last week. Therefore,
I had not seen this comet C/2006 P1 (McNaught) until a few hours
ago. This morning, while having breakfast, I looked out from my
kitchen window and I immediately spotted a star with about 1° tail
towards "half past ten"! Of my 107 observed comets, it has never
before occurred that my naked eyes have been my
discovery "instrument"! Comet McNaught looked about a half a
magnitude fainter than Jupiter but when taking into account the
lower altitude of the comet and the brighter background, I would
estimate the comet's brightness as magnitude -2.0 or a little
brighter.

I lost both Jupiter and the comet from naked eye sight when the
solar altitude was -2°. I continued to follow comet McNaught until
8:50 am local time with my 10x50 binoculars when I saw the rising
sun! This was my second daylight comet. The first was Hale-Bopp
which I followed with my C-8 telescope until after sunrise one
morning. Comet McNaught seemed to be much easier with 10x50
binoculars, so McNaught is much brighter than Hale-Bopp at its
brightest. I never saw comet West because I was not an observing
amateur by then so I can't compare McNaught to it. Hale-Bopp and
Hyakutake were prettier due their locations in a dark sky and with
their complex and long tails. McNaught was so cute with its naked
eye tail in the bright twilight.

/Timo Karhula (Sweden, latitude 60 N)
"

[CoombellKid]

It's cool guy's, comet C/2000 WM1 (LINEAR) does get a mention here, they
say it reached -2.5

Brightest comets seen since 1935...
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/brightest.html

regards,CS sunny days

[h0ughy]

Have to post this ---- this is one very happy Scotty! Well done mate!

From: Scott Alder
Sent: Thursday, 11 January 2007 1:07 PM
To: David Hough; Paul Mayo
Subject: I saw the comet!!!

Yes, as soon as I got home, noting the clear blue sky I set up even before having lunch. After dialling up the comets position with the Argo Navis, a short visual look around the field and bingo, there it was, a very tight central condensation, pure white in colour with a small amount of extended "nebulosity" around it. I was stunned to see a comet in broad daylight. Its still far enough away from the Sun that no sunlight falls on the primary.

I tried low and higher magnifications. As seeing was limiting resolution it paid to keep looking, every now and then a good patch of seeing would show a stellarlike core, quite bright. Imagine how this would look under a dark night sky.

Needless to say I imaged it. I could see it clearly in the camera viewfinder!
Images to follow.
Scott

[fringe_dweller]

Hi Rob, the problem with recorded and official comet magnitudes is that it is for the head only, it doesnt take into consideration tail brightness, which can be as bright as the head.
Also there being two basic types of comets - dusty comets and gas comets (and combinations of both of course) the intrinsic tail brightness is what makes or breaks a comet imo - there are generally fewer 'Great' gas only comets than dusty ones - Hyakutake is an exception that comes to mind - to see the solar wind etched into the great ion tail and naked eye kink/tail disturbance/disconnection on the large screen of the firmament is something myself and some friends will never forget - in fact it has fuelled this madness us for many years :) but that was more because of its close proximity to earth at the time than it being a brute of a comet physically.
Naked eye dusty comets are *generally* speaking the best, as I said, because the area of brightness is much larger and therefore more striking to the viewer (and Terry alluded to this earlier when we were talking of wm1 )- they are also the rarer type of comet - but they make you feel like the magnitude doesnt match the true spectacle and brightness and they seem much brighter than the strict technical head only mag estimation. C/2002 V1 (NEAT) was also is in this category - that is the best mag 4 -5 comet i have ever seen!!!!! - and WM1 is the best mag 2-3 comet i have ever seen! ;)
that list is a giggle - V1 was only that bright in SOHO C3 no one ever saw it that bright with there eyes, and there is NO way C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) was better than wm1, it was half the comet that wm1 was after its crack-up, besides I though T7 only got to 2.5 at best from memory (it was mainly a gas comet)

[fringe_dweller]

now i remember, coz northern favouring Ikeya-Zhang was happening at around the same time as wm1, it stole its thunder a bit
compare how many mentions wm1 gets to izzy on apod

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search?comet

look at early 2002

thats a perfect example of NH bias

[tornado33]

Yes, Ive just finished my images, posted in the images thread for this comet
I have never seen a comet with the sun up before, let alone the middle of the day! It was so exciting seeing it against the bright blue sky. Gee its brightening FAST! yet still far enough off the Sun to not have sunlight falling on the primary mirror, I can get a good deal closer, I should be able to follow it through perihelion.

It looks like a tiny compact globular, and when the seeing allows reveals a pinpoint white bright core. It looks best just in white light though was still quite visible through a Baade rnarrowband O3 filter.
With the 10 inch scopes drive on I just stared at it fascinated at what I was seeing for some time despite the cooking sun on me.
Scott

[tornado33]

Update
just had another look, the seabreeze noreaster seems to have smoothed the seeing a bit, and I can definately see a tail now. The surface brightness of the central condensation must be incredible.
Scott

[dcnicholls]

What instrument?

DN

[fringe_dweller]

nice one Scott! i'm with Bert, i aint risking my precious eyesight this close to the main event :P (no GOTO - dobby) should be even easier on the weekend/monday to do tho, hopefully :) will try it when near sunset then i think

[tornado33]

I used my 10 inch F5.6 Newtonian, with a 1 foot long lightshield to reduce glare a bit.
I used 16mm nagler, MA 25mm, and a 2.8 barlow on the 15mm as well. All showed the comet readily.
yes great care must be taken to avoid an accedental sweep across the Sun. I find aligning off the sun with a solar filter on is good for the Argo navis, I then move to the comets position and only then remove the solar filter and put on the lightshield.
Scott

[dcnicholls]

I had a look with Oberwerk-style 25x100 binoculars today, with no luck. But only monted on a tripod, no GoTo.

DN

[tornado33]

Seeings starting to get worse again, and sky brighter, (looked about 3:20 pm)though its still there. Cant wait to see what tomorrow holds.
Scott

[tornado33]

Just had another look, at 5:40 pm!, sky is blazingly bright, and comet getting low but I can still see it! cant see the tail now but the central condensation is very intense, gee what will tomorrow bring?
Scott
PS another phenonemon ive noted, the declination movement of the comet is significant, each time I look the Argo navis indicates its moved in DEC.
Gee some mag estimates put it at -3 now!
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/CometMags.html

[dcnicholls]

Dave Herald here in CBR saw it in the 5x50 finder attached to his Meade 14" mid afternoon. He said the GoTo mount was critical to seeing it, but nonetheless visible.

DN

[CometGuy]

Scott, I notice you mention that the comet seemed to get brighter during the afternoon in the imaging section. I wonder if the forward scattering effect is now starting to kick in? The prediction by Joe Marcus suggests 0.7 mag enhancement by 0 UT tommorrow which would be putting the comet close to mag -4.0.

I notice John Bortle posted that the comet was still quite a bit fainter than West's this morning (our time) but its brightness record will problably fall!

Terry

[tornado33]

Yes especially the central condensation, it seemed more intense. Gee will it get bright enough for any naked eye daytime viewings, say aside a building that blocks the sun?
Scott

[Mikezoom]

Heh, I've been trying that Scott.... nothing yet, can't wait for the week ahead!!!!! :)

Mike.

[tornado33]

This makes prospects VERY exciting
http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro/C2006P1.doc
Talks about the foward scattering, brightness may peak on Jan 14 UT at a whopping mag -5.2!

Also says
"In the forecast with forward scattering and n = 4, the comet’s brightness would exceed that of Venus over Jan. 13 and 14. The comet would be visible in daylight by binoculars and probably to the shielded naked eye in very clear skies. But if n = 3, the comet may be only marginally visible in daylight binoculars, if at all. If the comet can be located in daylight, visible/infrared photometry would be possible if the telescope and detectors can be shielded from direct sunlight. Between Jan. 12.3 UT and Jan. 15.7 UT, the comet will be at 8 deg or less elongation and visible in the SOHO C3 coronograph field at brightness levels likely to greatly saturate the central pixels unless precautions for shorter exposures are planned in advance."

[erick]

(Not sure which Comet McNaught thread is best for this question - I'll try this one)

Everything (being weather, diary, work, family, health!) permitting, I'll be imaging to 400ASA slide film. I'll be using my Pentax KX and alternating my 55mm/f1.8 and my (thanks Terry :) ) 135mm/f3.5 lenses. Maybe also my 28mm/f2.8, but I doubt it. I'd like to try pre-dawn and post-sunset.

Would you experienced astrophotographers please suggest some aperture/shutter settings I can bracket? I'm guessing aperture fully open or maybe shut down one stop. But I really don't have a feel for shutter speed. I could see what the meter suggests and use that as a maximum speed?? Or can we guess now? - are we talking bracketing, say 1/60 second or 1 second? What is the ball-park? Many thanks in advance.

Of course, being way behind the times, I've no way of knowing how I went until the slides come back! Could I get the comet to do an encore if I stuff it up? :D

[iceman]

I need to find a clear western horizon for sun->wed!

[OneOfOne]

I am planning on going to Brighton beach in the coming evenings. I should get a clear view over the bay to the horizon.

Fingers crossed...

[h0ughy]

Yes and we need some clear skies then as well.

[erick]

I was thinking the same, OneofOne - from the eastern side of Port Philip Bay. Might be able to get a few sailing boats silouetted? Anyone see a problem with photographing the comet over a vast expanse of water? :confuse2:

[dcnicholls]

In the absence of someone with more recent experience, I'll hazard an answer. (Last one I photographed was Comet Bennett in 1970!)

Unless you mount the camera on a tracking mount, you want to avoid trailing. That limits you to an exposure of somethng like a second. However, this applies more in a dark sky context.

In the twilight, I'd trust your exposure meter and bracket one or two stops either way.

DN

[erick]

Thanks DN.

I'll go with the exposure meter reading and bracket around that.

I won't be tracking, but I would have thought I could go up to 15 sec without trailing with the 55mm lens, probably less than 10 seconds for the 135mm lens. But I'm not anticipating having to expose for more than a few seconds??

[dcnicholls]

Got it!!!

Easily seen in my 25x100 Oberwerks. All it needed was an extended shade to reduce the glare from the sun.

I can see a vestigial tail (not sure how long as I can't remember how big the field is in the Oberwerks) like a pair of fuzzy "horns" below the fat-ish nucleus - probably 10 arc minutes or so.

Not as bright as Venus, by very easily seen.

Canberra, 12.25 AEDT, 12 Jan.

DN

[dcnicholls]

You could be right. It depends on how far north or south the comet is, and thus its movement per second. The way did it last time was to work out the grain size of the emulsion (using Ilford HPS and Kodak Tri-X) and worked out how long the trail would take to traverse one grain. However, with slide film, that's not so easy.

DN

[tornado33]

Just saw and imaged it today, (just after noon) sky brighter, hazier then yesterday but still readily visible in the 10 inch.
Scott

[tornado33]

Update, after comet passed the meridian I swung the tube on the other side of the mount, its more favouravle as less reflected light bouncing around. Comet definately looks a little brighter than yesterday, and despite the very bright sky I could see the start of the tail, a noticable lee of the sun wide fan like tail.

I recommend using a uv/ir filter to view as the sky was uncomfortable bright to look at being close to the sun.

Not recommended for viewing now with short tube scopes as focussed sunlight could well do damage both to ones eyes and the tube assembly.

Its noticably closer to the Sun than yesterday
Scott

[fringe_dweller]

some latest pics from various soucres

STEREO image!! yikes! http://secchi.nrl.navy.mil/images/hi1b_comet.jpg

and youtube videos - never seen a comet caught on video before!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9xhQeNiL2o

check out sidebar for more!!!

I see Spaceweather is calling it a Great comet!

[Satchmo]

Wow, this comet is going to be bright :)

I have a pair of 62 X 305mm binoculars loaned to me for Lostock with 1.1 degree true field ( 24 Panoptics ) which will be superb for viewing the coma region . Bring on the good weather.

Mark

[fringe_dweller]

Erick with the 55mm you can go up to even 10-15 sec's without much trailing i would think - but I would go for all the ones between 1 and 10 sec do all different random ones, thats what would i do - one has got to be the one! i simply lock the shutter release cable in bulb mode and count the sec's 'missippi one' ect. i would think 4 sec's would be a nice figure.
with the 135mm you have less time before trailing begins, and it will be darker due to being not as fast a lens - keep them too 1-5? secs' and the
28 i think you could go for up to 20 secs before trailing begins.
i would stop the 55 down one stop as well as some wide open.
the 135,, as Terry said is best wide open (I have the same lens- see my avatar for an example from it- and that is stopped down a stop!!) this is all on a nice sturdy tripod i assume?

[iceman]

The sky will still be reasonably bright.. 15 seconds will give you a completely white picture I imagine :)

At dusk, I'd say 3-6s exposure.

[erick]

Yes, on a pretty solid Velbon. I can lock the mirror up before I open the shutter, to reduce shake. I'll be using a cable release.

I've been thinking as much about composition of the photos as exposure and actually getting the comet onto film. I've some "weird" ideas I want to try - probably won't come off!

Thanks, Eric :)

[fringe_dweller]

hehe yes those figures are for darker skies i admit - but we are talking about 400 speed film here - nowhere as sensitive as digital Mike - but myself and friends have done a bit of tripod/400 film work in strong twilight before and have done wonders with 4 secs ;)

I have never locked up a mirror Erick - and never will - not with widefield anywayz :P

[fringe_dweller]

here's a nice example 4 sec 400 speed film shot on tripod stewart took

http://southern-x.org/g-trio/gallery-pic3.html

EDIT: and by the mid-end of the week those figures might come into play? and specially if you stop it down a bit, it will be even better again :thumbsup:

[tornado33]

Just for something different I installed my Baader 7 Nm Ha filter (not intended for visual use) and could see the comet through it on the 10 inch newtonian! The field was a deep red almost dark, with a bright red central condensation.
Scott

[h0ughy]

:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: I have just seen My first daylight comet ever!!!! Thanks Scott:thumbsup: to your setup. After observing Venus then swung back to the comet i would estimate the brightness to be between -2 to -2.5 mag at the nucleus. That is derived from observing Venus at -4

[jjjnettie]

Yehaa, congratulations Dave.

[tornado33]

Yep glad I could share the one in a lifetime experience of seeing a daytime comet.
After it got too low in the bright sky to see I dialled up stars Canopus and Archaner, both were readily visible at 5pm. Being well away from the sun helps there.
Scott

[davidpretorius]

cograts heaps dave, that is awesome!

[h0ughy]

thanks JJJ and Rod! I will say the sky was extremely bright and full of vapour, I am going to love this week coming - even my wife can't stand my excitement at the moment. She knows just how much I am looking forward to this!

[glenc]

An article in todays SMH.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/halleybeating-comet-to-glow-in-the-sunset/2007/01/12/1168105180973.html

[iceman]

Is it possible that it will be dimmer after it rounds the sun?

ie: What are the chances it will "burn up" too much?

[gaa_ian]

Great article with Rob Mcnaught !
So who Else has an observing session planned for Monday night ?
I will start a separate thread with our announcement & perhaps others could post their's as well

[CometGuy]

Overcast and drizzly here this morning :(. But noticed Jure Atanackov (from Slovenia) reported a naked eye daylight sight of the comet above the sun low in the evening sky. 15 minutes BEFORE sunset he could see 0.5 degree of tail with the naked eye, and after the sun set 1.5 degrees (and 3.6 degrees in binoculars!).

Terry

[CoombellKid]

here's a shot from Starry Night livesky pane LASCO C3 sat, looks big eh'
Mercury is the lil dot to the lower left.

regards,CS sunny days

[andrew]

Amazing video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaEMsO53YFQ

I'm off to Maryborough in country Victoria on Tuesday to try and image the comet, hopefully it will be a great show :) I too have never seen a naked eye comet..

[dcnicholls]

John Bortle has just posted a magnitude estimate of -4.5 on the comets-ml list. That should be a very reliable estimate.

DN

[jjjnettie]

Well guys and gals, this is it. This evening is our first chance to catch sight of McNaught after sundown.
I've got permission to setup on the property on top of our hill. Excellent western views!
Good luck!

[dennisjames1]

I remember as a boy looking at comet Bennett with my father and i was amazed..i am in Toowoomba Qld, where and when should i try to observe it cheers Dennis

[tornado33]

Low cloud brought in with the southerly in Newcastle today, patches of blue started to appear, in desparation I aligned the 10 inch scopes argo navis on the Sun so it was ready to go. When some more albeit washed out blue sky appeared near the sun I started looking and was astonished to see the comet THROUGH cloud whizzing past, at about 2pm today. It looked even smaller and more condensed than ever, must be significantly brighter then yesterday to see it under such conditions, the sky was very bright. What an amazing comet
Scott

[jjjnettie]

Dennis, find yourself a good western horizon and just as the sun sets, you should be able to see the comet.
Don't use bino's or a scope to view till after the sun has set.
Severe storm warnings are current for the south east so we may not get a look for clouds.
Good luck.
Clear skies

[koolkubkid]

But where is a good, unobstructed Western horizon in the Sydney area? I've not lived here long and wouldn't have a clue as to where to view McNaught. Any specific suggestions where I might view in Sydney?

Thanks for any help.
Good comet viewing.

-M

[CoombellKid]

We have a huge storm cell forming to the west has been for the last few
hours : ( perfectly clear to the east... go figure :screwy:

might try in the morning, I WANT to ty my new bino out

regards,CS sunny days

[Qakka]

G'day Guys,
I finally managed to find comet McNaught at 17:30 local time today.
After trying several times over the last week, I was thinking I was doing something wrong.
The sky has been really hazy here for many days which was preventing success.
The sky looked a little better today and seeing on the forum that many were picking it up easily, I tried again. I used a 75mm short refractor to finally see the small fuzzy coma at an altutude of around 35 degrees.
I 'd roughly say it was similar to Venus in total brightness but the still hazy sky would hide a lot of the coma.
Well done to those guys who got daylight images, good stuff.
Cheers, Qakka

[davidpretorius]

tried tonight to naked eye it from tassie, found a great spot, but too much smoke haze.....boy this is exciting!

[h0ughy]

dang this damn southerly change is socked us in with cloud. i saw on the news tonight all the elvis's in Parkes, and they had clear blue skies, and here on the coast we had cloud. not fair, elvis is dead and we have a live comet to see..............

[jjjnettie]

Yeah, totally unfair.
If I can't see it either tomorrow or monday I'll spit the dummy good and proper. I'll show those little kids in the supermarkets how it's really done.

[tornado33]

Yes Elvis as popular as he was, has gotta take a back seat to this comet.

[swannies1983]

:sadeyes: :sadeyes: :sadeyes: :sadeyes: :sadeyes: :sadeyes: If you cant tell, im a little sad as i wont get a chance to see this comet as im over in europe at the moment (have been since boxing day....get back australia day). I hope the comet performs really well for you and ill just have to drool and dream of what it looked like when i get back to Oz

[iceman]

Spaceweather is now reporting it at -5 magnitude, the brightest comet since 1965 (Ikeya-Seki)!!!

I hope these clouds clear, I'm going to try for it tonight!

[glenc]

COMET C/2006 P1 (McNaught)
Total-magnitude and coma-diameter estimates (visual unless otherwise noted):
2007
Jan. 13.75, -5.2, -- (R. A. Keen, Mt. Thorodin, CO, U.S.A., naked eye, daylight; comp. with Venus; 0.3-deg tail in p.a. 60 deg);
13.66, -5:*, -- (A. Kammerer, Malsch, Germany, naked eye; alt. 4 deg; 5 min after sunset);
13.56, -6:, -- (A. Amorim, Florianopolis, Brazil, naked eye and sunglasses; daylight; comp. w/ Venus);
13.36, -4.7:*, -- (B. H. Granslo, Fjellhamar, Norway, 7x50 binoculars; 0.1-deg tail in p.a. 50 deg.; alt. 3.9 deg; after sunrise);
13.10, -5:, -- (S. J. O'Meara, Mauna Kea, HI, U.S.A., naked eye; daylight; 1-deg tail; comp. w/ Venus);
13.08, -4.0:, 1' (A. Pearce, Nedlands, W. Australia, 20x80 binoculars; comp. w/ Venus; 0.4-deg tail; daylight, near zenith);
12.91, -4.1, -- (C. S. Morris, Fillmore, CA, U.S.A., 20x80 binoculars; comp. w/ Venus; daylight; comet alt. 35 deg; tail about 0.5 deg long);
12.91, -4.5*, & 1' (J. Bortle, Stormville, NY, U.S.A., 10x50 binoculars; comp. with Venus in-focus; 0.1-deg tail; daylight);
12.84, -3.9*, -- (D. W. E. Green, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A., 20x80 binoculars; comp. w/ Venus; daylight; comet alt. 17 deg; short tail);
12.83, -4.0, -- (R. A. Keen, Mt. Thorodin, CO, U.S.A., 8x40 binoculars; comp. with Venus, in-focus; tail about 10' long in p.a. 30 deg);
12.73, -3.2*, -- (J. J. Gonzalez, Leon, Spain, naked eye; 1-deg tail in p.a. 35 deg; end of civil twilight);
12.71, -3.6, 0'.2 (R. A. Keen, Mt. Thorodin CO, U.S.A., 9-cm reflector; comp. with Venus; broad 1'.5 tail in spanning p.a. 20-70 deg);
12.67, -4.0, -- (V. Gonano, Udine, Italy, 10x50 binoculars; daylight; haze; tail about 0.5 deg long);
12.67, -4.0:*, -- (R. Haver, Roma, Italy, naked eye; alt. 3.0 deg; bright twilight and many cirrus clouds);
12.66, -3.9*, 2' (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, naked eye; alt. 5 deg; tail about 2 deg long);
12.34, -3.3:*, 0'.5 (H. Dahle, Fjellhamar, Norway, 9x63 binoculars; 0.2-deg tail in p.a. 30 deg; alt. 4.4 deg.; at sunrise);
12.19, -4:, 1' (A. Pearce, Nedlands, W. Australia, 20x80 binoculars; 0.8-deg tail; daylight; rough estimate of brightness);

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/CometMags.html#2006P1

[CometGuy]

Yep Mike more good news, as predicted, forward Scattering of dust in the comet's coma and tail has kicked in and the comet has brightened even further overnight and brightness reports in the past 12 hours have put the comet brighter than Venus at mag -5! If you look at SOHO images you can clearly see the rise in brightness over the last 12 hours:

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/realtime-c3-1024.html

The length of the horizontal blooming spike is the telltale indication of brightness.

Lots of people are reporting naked eye daylight sightings, but sky conditions have to be good. This is very rare opportunity so make the most of it if you can!

Terry

[Deeno]

Hey Mike

Got any ideas on where to view it from the Central Coast?

[iceman]

Hey Dean.

I'm going to try:
a) the lookout in gosford
b) the old pacific hwy south of the reptile park (overlooking the freeway)
c) long jetty, over the lake
d) the entrance, over the lake

Got any other ideas?

[Mikezoom]

The Skillion?

[Deeno]

I was thinking maybe Rumbalara (spelling?) but I think they shut the gate at 8pm.
Along Peats Ridge Road between the freeway and the Wismans Ferry turn off.
The Skillion could be a good idea

[dennisjames1]

Yes the weather seems to be an issue just when you are looking for that clear view, hopefully the comet will stay brighter for longer that predicted, be nice if it does as it climbs higher in the south western sky early evening over the next week, what are the predictions for magnitude ?

[tornado33]

As I type my 10 inch f5.6 newtonian is on the comet now, drive on of course. So close to the sun the sun is focussing just in from the tube but still clear of the secondary. Wow despite the bright sky the comet is brilliant, can easily be seen and focussed on in camera viewfinder. Utterly incredible sight. Now VERY condensed seemingly smaller even than Uranus now. Good news, its now south of the Sun so a sunset viewing is definately the go for seeing its tail now. Gee this is the 4th day running where Ive seen a daytime comet, and its been getting brighter all the time.
I will post up images on the other thread later on.
Scott

[Astroman]

WOW what a sight, I am watching it now with my 8" f6, I have the apature stopped down to 50mm to stop the sun from hitting the primary, the comet looks awesome bright condences nucleus with a slight hint of a tail coming off it. I threw the toucam in and took a few shots with it, it was easily focused in the camera. Showed my 5yo son and my wife, both were equally impressed which is good.

[lepton3]

It's naked eye visible right now!

Use the eaves of a building as a sun block. Stand in the shadow and look up just to the east and south of the sun. You will see it.

Awesome in 12x50 binoculars as well.

!!!!!! Please be careful observing near the sun !!!!!!

Ivan

[Mikezoom]

Still a fair amount of smoke here, making it very hard to spot. Will keep trying. :)

Mike.

[davidpretorius]

thanks ivan, have just found it thru my guide scope


WOW, this is a fantastic event

[jjjnettie]

Still battling high cloud coming from the south and low cloud from the north.
As soon one clears the other takes its place.

[davidpretorius]

guide scope, 8x50 binos and now naked eye.

3 fingers widths SE of sun, 1/2 fingerwidth at extension in length


wow wow wow wow!

[gaa_ian]

As soon as the clouds clear I'm there !

[shahgazer]

man, you guys are lucky! It is almost near impossible to catch even a glimpse of the comet from Malaysia, the geometry isn't just right... skimming just above the horizon (never reaching 4 deg).

Oh well, might try my luck during daytime! But for, just keep feeding the photos guys, I'm enjoying as much as I can!

[Blue Skies]

Sighted it about 1.30pm today. I had to put some sunnies on and put the sun behind a gutter but it was there all right! About two finger-widths east of the sun.
Haven't been game to try with binos yet, but might try a bit later when the sun gets lower. I'm also planning to meet with a friend to view it at sunset. This should be good! I have a very clear memory of both Halley and Hale-Bopp so I'm looking forward to comparing McNaught with those two.

[CometGuy]

Cloudy and very hazy here in Brisbane but managed to get some hazy blue skies around 1:25pm and to my great suprise was easily visible in 15x70 Binoculars as on obvious cometl. Very impressive object. Too hazy to see it with naked eye unfortunately, but at least mag -5!

Here is my sketch from today:

http://www.pbase.com/image/73029054

Terry

[lepton3]

What can I say. We have beautiful clear skies here in Adelaide, and I am lying on my lawn chair in the shade of my house at 4pm observing a comet!

Not posting to gloat, just to give those with less favourable conditions some news to read.

With 12x50 binos, I can see quite a bit of detail. The nucleus is more than just a pin point. There is a bright halo around the nucleus, with part of the tail visible and fanning out quite wide, trailing almost directly east.

Also used my 200mm f/6 with 40mm eyepiece. This was a bit tricky to set up with the sun that close to the field. Less tail visible, in fact the view in 12x50s is better.

Can't wait to see how long the tail appears at twilight.

Ivan

[Astroman]

Hi Ivan,

IT IS A GREAT DAY FOR COMET OBSERVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Miaplacidus]

Yes, after a fair bit of hunting (with the sun hidden behind the eaves) I've just come in from having been able to observe good detail just now with both the 10x50 and 15x70 binocs. Impressed to see it so obvious and bright (even the non-astronomical amongst us), and what a glorious tail. Beautiful and sunny here at the moment.

Brian.

[tornado33]

Yes its stunningly bright. Skies in newcastle not good, hazy and bright but the core was almost uncomfortably bright to look at. Cant wait for a sunset view tonight. Bert's 300, f2.8 lens is all ready to go for a sunset session tonight.
Scott

[WadeH]

Thanks to Ivans presice directions I have now joined the daylight viewed team. :) Very easy to find and as for the reward, WOW!!! It is just spectacular. Very bright coma (is that the word?) and the tail easily seen. This was all through 10X50 binoculars using our house as a sun shade. Must have looked rather strange to passerbys while laying on my back with the binos pointing upwards.

[Jackson42South]

Once the clouds cleared away late afternoon from my location in Montrose, Tasmania, and using the house as shade from the sun, I managed to findit quickly using my trusty old 7x50 binos.
It is an easy naked eye object once you know where to look - I never thought that I would live to see the day when I would see a Comet in broad Daylight, let alone the tail – Wow.
I spent over an hour from 4:00 PM just looking at it with: Naked eye, 7x50 and 25x100 binos and the 8” Telescope.
What a magnificent sight - never to be forgotten.

[jjjnettie]

How cool was that!
Spotted the comet through high cloud using the 10x50 binos. Only managed about 30 seconds of viewing before it slipped behind heavier cloud.
Hoping for better things tomorrow evening.

[John K]

It's great reading this thread.
I spotted the comet at 7.10pm from Brunswick, Melbourne by hidding the sun behind the roof of my house.
In my 10 x 50 binoculars there was a diffuse halo around the nucleus with a distinct triangular coma/tail. Extremely bright! this thing will be amazing in the next few days!
By the time I got my 12.5" scope out I could no longer spot the comet due to some very light high cloud and my eyes being too affected by glare.

[loomberah]

That all depends on where you are looking from! Its a complete disaster here south of Tamworth due to bushfire smoke from near Dubbo. Smoke so thick that no stars were visible last night, and no sign at all of the comet in 10X50B in the middle of the day today :(
Hopefully the upper level winds will shift before tomorrow evening.

[chrisp9au]

Comet McNaught viewed after sunset, through bushfire smoke haze from Kyneton Vic.
Naked eye, 10x50s, and Orion 90mm ST.
Managed a couple of photos, but smoke haze made them disappointing.
Still beautiful to see! The next few nights should be spectacular!

[dcnicholls]

Smoke haze and thickening cirrus ruled out viewing in Canberra this evening (see image), and a daytime sighting wasn't possible in 10x50 binoculars (in the absence of a GoTo mount), but readily visible in 25x100 Oberwerks during the day. Very intense nucleus, significantly brighter than 2 days ago.

DN

[Mikezoom]

Too much smoke & high cloud all day and evening. Better luck tomorrow hopefully. :(

Mike.

PS: Great to see all the pics!!! :)

[andrew]

Just got back from observing this great sight, my first naked eye comet and I was not dissapointed. One image I took is here (http://www.luke-hamilton.com/andrewf1/Pics/IMG_0602(g)_filtered-re.jpg) 242kb. Next time, will need to get the scope out and have a look :)

[Glenn Dawes]

Hi all,

I observed MacNaught through scattered cloud this evening. At 8pm (about 10min before sunset it was clearly visible through 7x50 binoculars but just as a stellar point. My 15x80's showed a stellar nucleus with what looked like a 45° fanned tail but the edges were quite distinct and pronounced.

I would recommend my viewing site in Sydney on Flinders Slopes. The Sun set right on the theoretical time for Sydney.
It is part of that reserve complex which runs between Georges Hall and the Hume Hywy. Although the bushland is on both sides if Henry Lawson Drive, the slopes are on the west side. Driving north from Georges Hall, along Henry Lawson, Denman Rd. is on the right, this is followed by the entrance to Flinders Slopes on the left (less than 500m). Don't drive in (for it closes at 7:30pm) drive past a few hundred metres and park on the road and walk into the carpark and you're there.

Regards

Glenn

[alan meehan]

we have just come back ,from viewing the comet ,with scott alder ,david hough what a very bright comet,viewing was not great we like others had clould and some smoke,this appears to be avery bright comet.better viewing tomorrow

[circumpolar]

Just like glen, I was viewing about 10 mins before sunset through some cloud!. Fantastic!:D .

[circumpolar]

If you have audio software like Windows Media Player, you can listen or download an urgent podcast on Universe Today about Comet McNaught.

http://media.libsyn.com/media/astronomycast/AstroCast-McNaught.mp3

Just remember that when they explain how to to locate the comet they're speeking from a northern hemisphere POV (inverted for southerners).

This is about 2 days old.

[erick]

Just back from viewing, then reading all the posts. SUPER! :thumbsup: I had much the same view, it seems, as other Melbournians - heavy cloud on the western horizon was worrying, but the smoke and cloud of earlier in the day had cleared leaving a bit of haze.

I set up bayside an hour before scheduled sunset, then couldn't resist scanning the sky (very carefully remembering Galileo's blindness!) with my 12x60s mounted on tripod and moved very gradually across the target area. Suddenly, there it is :eyepop: - bright nucleus and some tail visible. Moved to the 20x80s and again, with care, searched until I found it. Tried to view with naked eye (plus my specs!), but too much sunglare and some haze. Patience, Eric. :P Busied myself taking shots of the setup and the Bay/Sun.

Cloud broke into two banks and the sun fell behind one - I banged off some shots. Sun back out in the break, but where was the comet? Silly boy brought only one tripod which I had now dedicated to the camera. Has it gone behind the first cloud bank?? Sun now dropped behind the final cloud bank, but not yet set. No sign of the comet - banged a few more shots anyway. Almost ready to give it away when, hand-held in the 12x60s, there it is - still just above the first bank. Lower the binoculars and there it is - the first comet I've seen in daylight hours. (OK, I'm cheating a little - the sun was fully obscured by thick cloud.) My less-than-impressed wife, who couldn't see it in the binoculars earlier, could also now see it with spectacle-assisted naked-eye.

Now I could observe the comet and choose my shots as the cloud moved into interesting patterns below it. It finally dived into the cloud and sadly, the lower break had filled in and that was it for tonight. Gradually packed up while savering the moment.

What have I got to show? Nothing yet - the slide film is still in the camera and I've more shots still available for other opportunities later this week. I, and you, will just have to wait :sadeyes:. I particularly want to know if that seagull did obscure the comet when he flew through one shot!

Watching Venus brighten in the sky as I drove home leads me to hope that, unless Comet McNaught (2006/P1) is exceedingly Mcnaughty and fades dramatically, the evening views later this week will be tremendous.

Happy comet-hunting everyone! :)

[Pack]

Sat on the beach near Glenelg facing west from sunset to approximately sunset + 15mins.

Comet easily visible in a standard 7x50B, barely visible in the 10x25B, not visible to the naked eye - at least for the 3 of us who were looking. Sky was clear of clouds but a strong haze low on the horizon made it difficult to pick out much detail. In binoculars a diffuse central spot was clearly visible with a fan shaped tail - which appeared very short probably severely limited by poor contrast due to the haze & bright sky. Mercury was not visible in any binoculars, but Venus was above most of the haze and was clearly visible in binoculars (but not naked eye during the observation period).

[iceman]

Great reports from everyone, and :welcome: to all the new members who found us due to Comet McNaught! :gday:

I went to Long Jetty last night, viewing across to the lake to the WSW. The sun was much further to the South than I expected, so the mountains were closer and obscuring more horizon than I was expecting. I used my 11x70 binoculars for some time trying to spot the comet.

I eventually found it as a faint, difuse white patch of sky, with a 45° fan like tail extending above and to the right.

Conditions were quite average, with high scattered cloud and thick cloud just above the mountains. I got a few pictures, and then while waiting for it to get darker, I lost visibility of it and never found it again. I'm guessing it went behind some of those clouds.

Hoping for better conditions tonight, and I think i'll go further north towards The Entrance, for a longer view across the lake to the WSW.

Images here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=182850&postcount=94

[brett]

sorry i checked as much of the posts as i could and couldn't see a mention as to how long the comet will be visible to us for? 2 weeks? longer? shorter?

thanks :)

[acropolite]

I took a stroll to the end of the street where visibility to the south west is good, couldn't spot the beasty, there was a lot of smoke on the horizon and I suspect this obscured the comet. I'll give it another go tonight.

[erick]

brett, check this out:-

http://www.astmag.com.au/Comet_McNaught.htm

:)

[lepton3]

FYI, Comet McNaught is still daylight visible from Adelaide. I have just observed it at 0927 local time. It has moved a little further from the sun, and appears dimmer than yesterday.

Fairly easily seen in 12x50 binoculars, and can be seen naked eye once you know exactly where to look - but is very low contrast, and would require very clear skies I think.

Observed last night leading up to, and for about 1/2 hour after sunset. It was easily visible to the naked eye, and the tail appeared longer with naked eye than through binos.

It never really got out of the glare of the sun - there were a lot of underwhelmed general public where I was observing. Hopefully for them it will be further from the glare tonight.

For those of us who normally only get to see a faint smudge late at night, this is fantastic!

Ivan

[iceman]

You're right about that. Glad I didn't take the family last night, would've been a great anti-climax for them.

I'll take them tonight though, so hopefully it will be much more spectacular, in the darkness a bit more and hopefully with less cloud.

[Lee]

cool - can't wait for it to move higher..... the very reason it is so bright is what is hampering viewing it the most now!

[Volans]

G'day All,

I managed to spot the comet in 10X60 binoculars and a 4" Mak from the Redcliffe Pennisular last night (14th of Jan). I was accompanied by Argo Navis and another friend. A wonderous sight :D !! There was high level cloud causing some haze and it was some time before we were able to spot this hairy star.

It is a crying shame that the Courier Mail has published such an atrocious article about the comet. The journalist and his correspondant have managed to make a complete dog's breakfast of what should have been a very simple article. It is on page 3 of today's (15th Jan) Courier Mail. In an article only 9 small paragraphs long, there are 6 paragraphs with glaring errors. :rolleyes: :doh: :screwy:

Hopefully the cloud will clear again for Brisbane.

Peter.

[jslasher]

I spotted the comet on Sunday 14/01/07 some 15-minutes after sunset from about 10-kilometers outside Broken Hill with a pair of 8 x 40 binoculars. Quite a treat. Too bad it set so quickly. However, it should be up for 39-minutes after sunset tonight. jslasher.

[ving]

too many pages to read so i dont know if this link has been posted:
http://www.universetoday.com/2007/01/13/comet-mcnaught-is-now-visible-in-the-daytime/
I am going to give it atry today at lunch if its sunny :)

[middy]

Just read the article online .... what a hoot! :lol:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21059844-5003419,00.html

Hope the link is usable, I don't know how to do one of those trendy 'Click here' things. :(

[iceman]

ROFL nice article :)

[erick]

Here you go - someone might like to correct it for us! :rofl:

Comet set to shine

Brian Williams
January 14, 2007 11:00pm
Article from: http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif</IMG> (http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/?from=ni_story)



STARGAZERS will be in for a treat tomorrow night, as one of the brightest comets in decades should be visible in the evening twilight.


McNaught's Comet can be found by looking west-southwest a few minutes after sunset. It is expected to be visible for about 45 minutes.
Its tail will be pointing up from the horizon and should be about two degrees long – about the width of the moon.

Canberra-based amateur astronomer Paul Floyd said yesterday it was important that viewers should get away from light pollution such as that found in Brisbane and find a clear and unobstructed horizon.

Mr Floyd said the comet had been reported in the northern hemisphere as bright enough to be seen with the naked eye but asteroids were notoriously unpredictable.

"A bloke in WA who knew where to look saw it at 11am using binoculars so I'm quite excited," Mr Floyd said. The best view will be with binoculars.

The comet, effectively an iceberg, is about 1km in diameter.

It was discovered last year by the Uppsala Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, near Coonabarabran, in NSW.

The comet, discovered in 2004, will fade rapidly after tonight and will not be seen again for 2000 years.

[ving]

BE VERY CAREFUL Y'ALL IF YOU USE ANY TELESCOPES OR BINOS. VERY CLOSE TO THE SUN. YOU DONT WANT TO SEE THE SUN THRU BINOS UNPROTECTED!!!!

this bloke cant make up his mind if its a comet of asteriod :shrug:

[Volans]

Well, these are the corrections [in red] that I would make.

Peter.

[erick]

Yes, I very hesitantly set up on a tripod and carefully scanned near the sun. Still couldn't avoid picking up glare. Had a few bright purple dots in my vision for the next 15 minutes.

[erick]

The reader must wonder what happens after 45 minutes - does it just go "Phut" and go out? :D

(It's always interesting to read a newspaper article on something you know about - you learn just how much these reporters just make up!!)

[Zander]

is it possible to view the comet during the day with the naked eye??
i was speaking to someone last night at the beach and he said it was brighter yesturday at 12 o'clock than it was last night just after sunset. he said he could view it with the naked eye, just by blocking the sun with his hand :S, i have tried today to see it, no success:shrug:

[ving]

i just tried that zander and had no love at all... anyone else seen it nakid eye today?

[gregl456]

Probably should have posted this a few days ago, but if you are in this game you shouldn't do anything near the sun without at least a pair of $6 solar sunnies during setup - and that's for your eyes, not your hardware, which also doesn't react well to direct solar exposure :)

[McComet]

I've been extremely interested in viewing Comet McNaught namely because that's my surname and my father's name is Robert!!!
Needless to say everyone at work suspects I have a tail now :lol: I'm in Toowoomba Qld and have been looking for the comet while I'm powerwalking at dusk but cloud cover has prevented me from viewing the 'family' comet.

Was glad to hear that we of the Southern hemisphere might be able to see the comet better in the later half of January. There's still hope :)

I've always been a bit of a star gazer and want to learn more about astronomy. Would appreciate any suggestions on books to read etc.
Well, here's to seeing the comet myself. What an experience that will be!

Have a great day!

McComet :)

[neB]

<rant>
Clouds - grrrr.

No rain - double grrrr.

Either fill my dam up or bugger off so I can see the comet. </rant>

[iceman]

:welcome: McComet, funny story :)


Probably a good idea to start a new thread regarding this, rather than have replies in this thread. Best to keep this on-topic.

Start a new thread in the Beginners Forum, or do a search because there's been a few in the same situation as you! :)

Thanks! and welcome to IIS!

[Ric]

Hi Neb, I had the same as well with a smoke haze, couldn't see a thing :mad2: .
Could be better this evening though, it seems to be clearing :D

Hope everyone else is having better luck.

Cheers

[ving]

just had another squiz... i might have seen it or might not... its hard to say. i was looking SWish of teh sun and about 4 fingers out (skinny fingers :lol:)

[Zander]

i had another look also, couldn't see it :sadeyes:
there is so much stuff in the air that lights up as it reflects the sun's light. gets me everytime, then i see it drift pass and my hopes fade
meh, hopefully it will be good viewing tonight, weather is good rigth now, only 1 tiny cloud in the sky :D

[dcnicholls]

Just did a quick check in Starry Night. For Canberra the comet is nearly 7 degrees higher in the sky than the Sun, and directly above it, at 3.36 pm today. For Sydney it's at 3.20pm.

DN

[erick]

No joy naked-eye viewing in Melbourne, for me. Cloud has cleared but still bushfire smoke. However, not really bad directly overhead where ol' Sol is at present - but that may be wishful thinking.

Tried for 20 minutes - cannot spot it. Guess who forgot to bring his binoculars into work today - Duh!! :screwy:

But we make the final go/nogo decision at 4pm - a group from work with help from Google Earth have decided where to setup from 8pm this evening. I know I won't see it again if I sit in my lounge room so I'm going. :)

[fringe_dweller]

Hey Ving, its too the east of the sun today mate, and dont worry, contrary to the impression some observers have given in various reports, this is a TEENY WEENY object, and definately not a BLINDINGLY obvious thing to start with, sunset is a better time to look now. Wonder how many cataracts have been commenced with all these daylight comet excitement? LOL
I have had a lot of trouble with floaties and spots ect. during these daylight obs, not to mention a never ending stream of dandelions floating high above, seen a lot of 'Dandelion comets' ;) frankly i have had enough of this daytime comet crap - I'm more of a nighttime astronomer I have realised - sick of sweating on my optics :P
cheers
ps last night (i couldnt go out sadly) was the first night that p1 was seen in evening twilight here - we went out friday and sat to nice western views, clouds were a slight nuisance, but should of still seen it, and it couldnt be seen despite best efforts, large binocs ect. last night was easily seen naked eye but 10 d higher -4 venus couldnt be at same time, thats a considerable brightening eh! that makes it an easy 5-6 mag eh :)

[ving]

lol fringey!

maybe i should head out yet again :P

[lepton3]

It is indeed visible naked eye from Adelaide.

Can only reinforce the earlier comments about care when observing near the sun. Make sure you are shaded by a permanent object and that you won't accidently slip into the sun.

Having said that, you need to set up in a lawn chair in the shadow of the SE corner of a building. The comet is about 6 degr south and 2 degr east of the sun. You should see it in fairly easily in 12x50 binoculars. If you are lucky enough to have clear skies (no haze/smoke), you should be able to see it naked eye once you know where to look from the binos.

Some observations: not as bright as yesterday, but the tail really does look longer. Looking good for twilight tonight.

Ivan

[fringe_dweller]

Yeah i saw it, still not overwelmingly impressed tho, altho it is technically/historically overwhelming of course, and extremely interesting, btw I think this is my 13th naked eye comet

Good luck Ving, hope ya catch it! its about 6 and a half degrees from suns limb forgot to say!

[fringe_dweller]

must admit getting I am not my usual pasty white astronomer self anymore, getting i nice hollywood tan :D hate the sun :mad2:

[ving]

actually kearn, i might have been looking east... with out my compass i am stuffed :rofl:

[[1ponders]]

I know what you mean!!!! Haven't we been punished enough. :sad:




If you live somewhere with clear skies make the most of it, I really envy you, but at least there will be a few who will get to see it.

[ving]

gunna go work on my tan.... brb :P

[fringe_dweller]

hehe its kinda slightly south of east - i had to get my compass out today too David :P I need my constellations to know where i am normally, its a different world in the daytime for us vampires, lead suits are damn heavy :)

[ving]

WOAH!!!

ok i got it nakid eye! :eyepop:
the tail is fairly long hey!!! :D

while an unimpressive sight i am super impressed that i could see it! :D

[Zander]

i still can't see it:sadeyes:

i am looking down and a bit right of the sun. is that right???

:help:

[ving]

hi zander, i found i was looking too close to the sun. you want to look eastish of teh sun and try and block as much of teh suns glare as you can.

best of luck

[Zander]

i tried and tried, still can't see it.
oh well, spose i'll just have to wait 5 and a half hours till the sun sets.
thnx for ur help neways :D

[ving]

pleasure :)

[fringe_dweller]

:thumbsup: David, congrats mate, welcome to the daylight comet club! :)

[fringe_dweller]

Zander, it just gets further away from the sun from now on, if it keeps its brightness above or around -4 (let us pray), it will just get easier to spot during day especially in a 'scope :) and the reduced glare from suns corona, by thursday its 15d from sun. its not over yet, hopefully!

[ving]

thanks :)
title changed as per your request...
you did send a subliminal message didnt you?:screwy:

[Argonavis]

great


http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?Australia6/2007015/Australia6.2007015.terra


lots of white fluffy stuff

[MortonH]

Saw it today from Rose Bay, Sydney around 3pm. Blocked off the sun with the roof of ,my apartment building and then easily found it with 7 x 50 binos, approx one field of view (maybe a tad more) from the sun. At that time of day, the comet was almost directly above the sun. I guess as the day progresses it'll be more to the left of the sun.

Having spotted it with the binos, it was them remarkably easy to see with the naked eye, although it kept disappearing for a few minutes as high level cloud/haze (almost invisible because of the sun's glare) swept across. It was always easily picked up again in the binos.

Was at North Head this morning and it looks like a good spot, with decent elevation compared to the city. I'll be back over there around 7pm to hopefully see the comet reveal more of itself as the sun sets.

Good luck to everyone that hasn't seen it yet.

Morton

[fringe_dweller]

as per usual of course mate, but actually it was 'Drink Coca Cola, Buy a Ford' :P :doh:

[astroron]

I havn't seen the Comet yet, CLOUDS and HILLS being the problem:mad2: in that order:(

[jjjnettie]

Unless we get a drastic change in the next couple of hours it's going to be Comet McNot for me this evening.

BUT, I'll still setup the binos and camera though, you never never know when a sucker hole will open up. I'd be kicking myself for weeks if I missed it.

[GrahamL]

clouds at sunset everyday :shrug: .. its looking like a mcnot from here to jjj

the weather map dosn't look to promising either .. why isn't tassie getting picked on like the rest of us? ..haha

[Zander]

not a cloud in the sky for adelaide:D
though i don't have a good view of the western horizon:sadeyes:
hopefully i'll be able to get down to the beach again like i did last night :thumbsup:

[Mr. Subatomic]

Hi,
I need to know any good public spots to observe in Sydney, maybe around the city or inner western suburbs.
If anyone could give me one or a few by early this evening (before the comet) it would be great. thanks

[MrB]

Not much fun for us sandgropers either.
Cloud just cleared and sky is blue, but around the sun there's a lot of high level ice/dust/snot.

[sheeny]

No joy here - naked eye, 7x50s or 20 x 80s... Actually I can't even see Venus so that must say something about the amount of haze in the air.:sadeyes:

I'll keep my fingers crossed for sunset, but at the moment the west is obscured by cloud/smoke like yesterday so I don't have my hopes up.

Those of you with clear sky...enjoy!

Al.

[CometGuy]

Cloudy here in SEQ, but looking at the satellite imagery there is a lot cloud over the whole continent. In reality I think the best views are problably a couple of days away, meanwhile our friends in Adelaide (or anywhere else thats clear) can keep us updated :)

Terry

[Mikezoom]

Well the smoke has mostly cleared here in Wagga Wagga so I hope to get some shots a little later on. I am at work all night but have the luxury of setting up my tripod & cam on the top floor with excellent views of the western horizon. :D

Will keep you updated & I hope everyone gets a chance. :)

Mike.

[dugnsuz]

Excellent jjjnettie, love it!:lol:
Doug:thumbsup:

[CometGuy]

jjj,

Comet McNot for me as well :( But interesting a sucker hole appeared in the cloud to the west around where I was (on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road at Victoria point) but I think I positioned myself too far north to see the comet. Pays to be mobile though. Amazing only 15 minutes before hand it was heavily overcast.

Terry

[gaa_ian]

Clouds:( ..Rain :mad2:.. storms :sadeyes: .....Comet Mcnot !:sad:
oh well there is always tomorrow, or the day after OR Astrocamp :D

[asterix]

Terry,

I was looking through that sucker hole to. No luck though :(

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Got about 20 min marvellous viewing just now before the comet disappeared behind my neighbour's tree. It was subjectively much more obvious than Venus through my 10 x 50s when I first went looking.

I was pleasantly surprised by the skyline at my location being lower in elevation than I had thought.

Out with the chainsaw tonight, and we will be all set up and waiting tomorrow.

GeoffW1

[matt]

Hooorayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!

I got my first view tonight.

My new 10x50s arrived this morning, just in time.

At first I couldn't see it because it was hidden by a powerline, but then I took a few steps forward and there it was!!

And the head and tail are really surprisingly bright. That was a real surprise and pleasure.

Also, it looks like it moves quite fast.

I'm stoked. I reckon the binos will be given a good workout before this little beauty's gone. It's my first comet since the fizzer that was Halley.

I'm now a confirmed comet fan:lol:

PS - my girlfriend (member name Raezee) was able to see it naked eye! (I couldn't)

[loomberah]

The whole Northern half of NSW is under cloud this evening, so still no evening views of the comet here, even with today's thinner smoke haze. The smoke thinned quite a bit over last night, but it was still very whitish around the sun throughout the day. All my attempts to find the comet in 10X50B failed dismally. I know I was looking in exactly the right spot, but it just wasn't visible. Lots of bright dandelion seeds drifting by though!


Gordon

[sejanus]

I just saw it! Got a great view south coast of sydney on old princes hwy facing westish with my bino's - looked awesome!!

I will bring my scope out tomorow night for it.

[dcnicholls]

Finally... Canberra still had a fair bit of smoke in the sky but completely cloud free. Found P1 in my 10x50 binocs (hand held) a few seconds before the Sun disappeared behind Mt Tidbinbilla. As GeoffW1 noted, paradoxically it was easier to find than Venus. Naked eye visible, but with a lot of difficulty. The smoke precluded seeing more than about 20 mins of tail in 10x50s.

Let's hope the smoke clears by tomorrow.

DN

[ballaratdragons]

Comet McNot is a bummer here too. Bushfire smoke has blotted out the sky!!!! I can't even see Venus!!!

I keep searching every 2 mins with the 20x80's but to no avail :sadeyes:

And tomorrow afternoon we have thunderstorms predicted :(

[Mikezoom]

Same as dcnicholls here, was beautiful in the 15x70's, just viewable with the naked eye (even got some pics) but smoke haze cut it dramatically. Still very exciting, first comet here since '86 too! :D:):party:

Mike.