McNaught - Naked Eye or Not?

[circumpolar]

OK,

Q: Can you really see Comet McNaught with your naked eye or is that just what you tell your mates? :whistle:

[Zander]

yes u most certainly can!

it was quite bright tonight against the darker background.
both the head and tail are visible with the naked eye

[erick]

A: No, well not my wife and I, anyway since we had to be wearing our specs (:D ) to see it last Sunday very distinctly in the sky even before the sun set below the horizon - but after the sun had "set" behind a thick belt of cloud.

Evidence coming, I hope - I pick up the slides tomorrow - will only post if I didn't completely stuff up the exposure :whistle:

[acropolite]

Sticks out like the proverbial dogs .... even naked eye. At around 9:30 (sunset was at 8:45) tonight I spotted it again through cloud, an unforgettable sight, made the mistake of running back to get the camera, but didn't get back in time before it was starting to go into the trees. The tail was three times longer than two nights ago, probably because of the darker sky. I am a little annoyed at myself for not being better prepared.

[leon]

absolutely, and not only that you can photograph it as well, check it out in Observational Astronomy, taken 30minutes ago.

Cheers leon

[Grinz]

I did - on Sunday.:eyepop:

That's how you catch this Comet Fever that is going around in a big way. In fact, I am contemplating the idea of designing a T-shirt that says "I am NAUGHT lying, I SAW the Comet (with McNothing than my naked eyes)".

Also contemplating taking off a month so I can get SOME sleep between comet vigils, catching some cricket on TV, making a living and (mostly)talking about comet vigils. :whistle:

[jjjnettie]

I Saw Comet McNaught.

[RB]

Naked eye, easily ......
......and that's the truth.

[ballaratdragons]

This would be even funnier:
"I saw Comet McNaught with McNothing other than my McNaked eyes!" :thumbsup:

[asimov]

Took a bit of locating but yep, once found sticks out like a dogs hind leg!

[ving]

yup, sticks out like a sore thumb :)

[Grinz]

Ken, I like your version much better too:D.

[ving]

ho about "I came to see the comet but all i saw was (mc)Naught" or "My parents went to see the comet and all i got was this lousy t-shirt" :P

[Grinz]

*chuckle*

Another possibility: "I wanted a telescope to look at the comet but my wife (husband) bought me McNaughting but this T-shirt"

And one for us ladies: "I'm a McNaughty girl, I promise I am!"

[Miaplacidus]

Tuesday evening, after sundown from the top of Mt Wellington (with the comet still above the smoke haze). Easy peazy.

[erick]

"Come out the backyard in the dark. We can be McNaughty together."

[gbeal]

Yep, not only after the sun sets either.
On Sunday it was very plainly visible, with the un-aided eye, at about 1;00pm in the arvo. It was a matter of placing an obstruction in line with the sun (a roof line or similar) and looking. I pointed it out to a friend, with the idea of showing it to him with binoculars first, and he said he could see it even before I gave him the binos. It DOES depend on the sky transperancy though, as I couldn't do this on Monday, only with binoculars.
I posted a poor daylight image of it in the Solar System column.

[Starkler]

Has anyone in Melbourne seen it yet?

It been cloudy or smokey to the western horizon every evening since Saturday here :sadeyes:

[ving]

i saw it on monday at 3:30pm. boy was it hard to spot tho. I havent had any daytime luck since... might have a shot today if its not cloudy

[mojo]

I'm beginning to think it's a huge conspiracy. Has anyone actually seen it in Melbourne? I'm lookin' but I just don't see it through the smoke and clouds :(

[erick]

If I hadn't seen it myself on Sunday for about 20 min above the cloud line, I'd be agreeing with you! In fact, I said as much for the 15 min it took until I picked it up in the binoculars - then it was REAL! Now I'm desparate for more...................!!!!!!!

[mojo]

Now you're just being greedy :lol:

Yeah the clouds will have to part eventually. At least I know it's possible to get a glimpse from Melbourne. I should have gone to Perth for holidays this year. It seems the place to be for comet watching.

[rogerg]

I have to admit, we have had a particularly good run of luck considering all. We did have some cloud the first 2 nights, but could still see it through the gaps. Then the second 2 nights have been perfect. I'm not sure what today is like, I work underground so only see the weather when I walk out to my car in about 30-60mins :(

I think even a blind man could have seen it naked eye at about 9:15 on the last couple of nights. :)

[Hemiduty]

Brissie is the same, only clouds for us Mojo.

[spinnaker]

Just got home after watching the comet set over the sea. Easy, easy naked-eye object. Stunning - by far the best comet I've ever seen. Leaves Hyakatake & co in the dust ;-)

[GrahamL]

Theres something special about seeing this large object blazeing through the sky with all the views of where you live in the field around you to glance at.Binos are great but I like the wider eyeball view more I think ;)

[andrew]

Without a doubt I saw it with my unaided eye. Just haven't been able to put the scope on it yet :( So cloudy down here in Melbourne at the moment :(

[norm]

Absolutely !!! Well worth the effort and something to remember by.

[rmcpb]

Once found its an easy naked eye object.

[Grinz]

Tonight you would have had to be blind NOT to see it naked eye over Table Bay. An unforgettable sight.

[bloodhound31]

The thing is soooo frickn HUGE!!!!!!!!!!! How could anyone not see it naked eye?????? The thing spans nearly half the sky!! I think I'm in love......

took two rolls of film tonight from the top of Mount Stromlo.

Anyone care to donate a digital cam? Cant wait to get the 35mm developed!

Next life...comet Barry....

Baz:D

[Phil]

Check my shots in solar systems taken tonight best comet i have seen. It is a must look.
Phil

[danielsun]

Is it still visable with the naked eye at midday because i'm getting some clear blue sky sucker holes through the clouds here and i'm looking and looking and cant see nufin!
I'm begining to think that it is a conspiracy against victorians to get back at us because the rest of the country is jealous we hold the most sporting events...... or something. :lol:

[erick]

I suspect not, but, what the heck - any sky and we'll have to dive into it!! Try your 16x70s! But watch the sun, even though the target area should be well away from it now.

Perhaps tonight, Daniel, there is enough blue sky through my window to get my hopes up.

[danielsun]

Thanks Erick, we can only hope for a clear night tonight! ;)
Well i'm going back out there to try my luck with the bino's and if not i'll have the camera ready for tonight.
:prey:

[acropolite]

Eric, 7x50's weren't wide enough to fit the whole comet in last night....we found the best tima around 45 minutes after the sun had gone below the horizon.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Having now seen Halley, Hale-bop and the last few squibs, I would place the grand effect of McNaughts tail and shear viewing power over Perth the last few days, as the BEST!!!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Haley was higher and more viewed as a faint comet, but I must say this one has blown our socks right off here in Perth.

Every evening now, you can view it from 9pm till about 9:40pm.

This is the bench mark for me for all future comets.;)

Tony

[skies2clear]

And a quick report from lil' ol Adelaide in my back yard! It was awesome last night! The best comet I've ever seen. :eyepop:
Halley was a dissappointment compared with this! There was a break in the clouds for an hour and I felt so lucky to see it span the clear skies I'd say at least 10 degrees, even in suburbia. Fantastic, and can't wait for tonight!

[gaa_ian]

Sitting here in the rain & Clouds in Cairns, I am so glad to have seen this at IISAC :D
The only reason you would not see it would be if you didn't wait long enough after sunset or had heavy clouds or maybe looked east instead of west :rofl:

[ving]

i cant vote on cheryls behalf cause she's not a member but she has seen it twice now :)

[BLiTZWiNG]

AWESOME!! you cannot miss it with the naked eye unless you're legally blind!!

I took some photos, most are a little blurry because I had nothing to lean on, then I found a post, but made the mistake of doing 30s exposures. The pics look good, but there is a little trailing... didn't realise the stars moved so far in 30s !!

[dhumpie]

McNaught was definately naked eye for me from the top level or my workplace ;) Caught it for the first time last night through the clouds and the haze from bushfires. Tail was nice although I could not see the full extent due to clouds (better views through my 20x80LW...boy is the nucleus bright!!!). Just wish I had a nice clear horizon for once. The skies have been clear around zenith but for some strange reason seem to hover close to the horizon....bummmerrrrrrr....

Darren

[erick]

Guess what? The comet moved as much and a little more than the stars in the same time! ;)

[BLiTZWiNG]

Yeah it did, I'd attach the photo, but after conversion it came in at 186kb... I'll have to do some cropping...

It has suffered a little from double jpg compression... but you get the picture...

BTW, this was not taken using a telescope, just my Sony Cybershot digital camera.

[ballaratdragons]

Naked Eye?

Can't miss it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

It dominates the sky up here in the dark. The local CFA branches are getting fed up with phone calls about the spot fire in the distance. People are thinking it is smoke! :doh:

It is so bright up here naked eye that wherever you look in the sky it shines brightly in your periphery!!!

[erick]

Show off!!! :P :D

Ken, I'd be up there again in a flash if I could get away! :sadeyes: