What are the chances of seeing a comet through this

[[1ponders]]

This is a test to check to see how good your weather sense is.

SE Qld and NE NSW midday . What to you reacon our chances are of catching the comet tonight.:shrug:



Edit: I'll keep a running update of images as they become available. ;)

[Harb]

Do you happen to have access to a jumbo jet, or maybe a saturn 5 rocket ;)

[ving]

at the red dots?
anyhow the coulds apear to be heading north west so the sucker hole might be ok :)

[[1ponders]]

No, not the read dot's. I don't know what the dots are for. I'm just past the top edge in from the coast.

[[1ponders]]

Try this map.

[Dennis]

Hi Paul

Well, we have been up the hill and back down again, every evening for the last 4 days and not a peek. I feel very much like the Grand Old Duke of York!!!

However, I have thoroughly enjoyed, and appreciated, the amazing photos posted by IIS members; the one by Asimov is a real cracker.

Cheers

Dennis

[[1ponders]]

The last one is the newest map by about 12 hours, I believe.

[mojo]

I haven't been this disappointed since I found out that Santa was just a skinny guy in a padded red suit.

I know that it'll still be visible for a while yet and the clouds have to eventually cooperate but oi vei, the suspense is killing me.

[Striker]

What comet,

I have given up so that way I cant be dissapointed.

[hogly52]

Ha! With the monsoon trough heavily upon the area, coupled with a neat cycle of rain, heavy cloud & thunderstorms, we're not doing well in Nhulunbuy. :help: Ian, please hurry back from the IIS Astrocamp with some clear sky.

All the best down south!

Cheers,

Graeme

[acropolite]

I put Maybe, last night I walked to the end of the street, clouded in on the horizon. Ten minutes later after short stroll the cloud had cleared and the views were magnificent. You can never tell until the exact hour.

[jjjnettie]

I've spent every evening alternating between cursing and praying to the cloud gods.
But I still put all this cloud down to Paul buying that astro gear.
You knew this would happen, but oh no, you had to go ahead and buy it anyway.
Bad boy.

[[1ponders]]

I've been paying for it for the past 3 months Jeanette. :sad:

[jjjnettie]

That'll learn ya.

[[1ponders]]

Yeah but I didn't buy anything until December :screwy:

[Hemiduty]

AHHHHHHHHH!

So I see it is not just me then who is dying to see this thing, and finding nothing but BLASTED CLOUD COVER.

I mean it is seriously making me crazy, I have taken to muttering to myself like an old man. Ok I kinda did that already but I mean now I just can't stop.

Along comes the comet of a lifetime, and these damned clouds are here now? I have not seen a good comet in my adult life, how dare nature wreck this for me lol.

So for the weather gurus out there, how far and in which direction should I go to actually see this thing tomorrow? Is it worth trying, or is failure assured no matter where I go?

I like how the same thing happened with the Leonids too. It's ridiculous.

[Astroman]

I wouldnt go where the red dots are, they are where fires currently are. Those Modis maps are really cool. Oh chances of seeing the somet are about as good as seeing it through a galloon of used motor oil.

[Dennis]

Saw it tonight, finally, from the top of Brisbane's local "hill" - Mount Coot-tha. It was brilliant, exceeding all expectations. Simply wonderful. Hope you managed to see it too Paul.

Cheers

Dennis

[Mick]

I got a look tonight as well Paul, had to drive inland a bit but it was worth it. :)

Here is a quick photo from tonight of how luck I was. 4 sec photo.

[ballaratdragons]

Wash The car??!!!!

Were not allowed to! Big fines if you get caught!

[Ric]

Just rain and heavy cloud as far as I can see down my way

Bummer

[[1ponders]]

:cool: I saw it, I saw it!!! :cool: And I got some pictures :cool: :D (They are in the McNaught images thread)

How amazing. I would have only give myself a 20% chance of getting anything. There was heaps of cloud except for a band of sky 10 deg wide that appeared on the western horizon about 10 min after the sun went down :D

[Astroman]

Yay

[Hemiduty]

Yes after all my whinging I got to see it too!

For a good 10 minutes before it set we had good views of it, although still looking through a lot of haze. At least the blocking clouds were clear in the area needed to see it.

It suprised me how far to the left / south of Venus it was. I can't wait to see it in less hazy, darker conditions.

[BLiTZWiNG]

Still haven't seen it... last night the cloud cleared up at.... 9:30!!! but not on the horizon...

*mutters strange curses at any and all gods*

BTW, where did you get those satellite photos??? I usually check the BoM, but that's not very good for up close and local.

[[1ponders]]

Satellite photos from here, MODIS (http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/).

[[1ponders]]

Check out this one. http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?Australia6/2007019/Australia6.2007019.terra.250m.jpg

Warning: It's big! From Frazer Is south to NSW/Vic border at 250meters per pixel :clap:

[BLiTZWiNG]

Man those are awesome!! Pity it stops about 25km north of where I live!!

Actually, after comparing it to the BoM radars, my home town is there!