Comet C/2008 Q3 Garradd

[astroron]

I had a quick look at Comet C/2008 Q3 Garradd tonight, with the 16" in between clouds and haze:(, it gave me the impression of a unresolved very round Globular Cluster, it gave no hint of a tail but it seems quite large.
No green colour was seen.
I hope the weather improves for tomorrow night:astron::stargaze:

[jjjnettie]

I'm glad you got a look at it Ron.
Can't believe we've got clouds again.
I got back from work tonight, had dinner, got rugged up and went out to the shed to set up, looked up and went straight back inside again.
Oh well, an earlyish night will do me the world of good.

[astroron]

Yes Jeanette, I set the scope up this afternoon and the sky looked great, did the same as you had tea got all rugged up went outside and looked up:sadeyes: did some observing between clouds then gave up in disgust:mad2:
let's hope for a better night tomorrow:prey::prey::prey::astron:: stargaze:

[Liz]

Hi Ron
Also had a look last night - bit of trouble finding it as chart had it a little north of 5128 ... but was quite a way north.
Covered a similiar area in size to 5128, but more condensed, no tail seen either.
First comet I have seen since Lulin :):)

[astroron]

Hi Liz, I to was surprised out a bit by how far it was away from NGC 5182,but it was a nice sight while it lasted:)
Lets just hope the weather improves for the following observing period without the Moon:astron::stargaze:

[Rob_K]

Nice obs Ron & Liz! :thumbsup: Cloudy here again, but hoping to see more of the comet in the coming week...

Cheers -

[mozzie]

what mag. ron
mozzie

[Liz]

Am not sure what the official mag is, but what I have read, and seen, it comes in at about 7.5.

[astroron]

I had a good look last night and would estimate it at around mag 6.9-7 with the nucleus off center and quite bright, still no green colour:astron:

[mozzie]

thanks ron ill have a look tonight with my little dob ive a little firmware prob with my lx 90 a controller is at bintel starry night has it and ill star hop to find it
mozzie

[GrahamL]

looks good tonight (14/6 )and easy to find
http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/comets/2008_Q3.gif

maybe 3 degrees or so below that bright star out by itself you use to hop from omega cent to cent A.. quite bright cant see any green but its not a great bit of sky for me
from home... how bout you guys :)

[astroron]

I set the scope up early then had a few phone calls,when I eventualy went out there was clouds about:( so I had a quick look, not as good as the other night but still quite nice:D it was nearly on the Zenith for me,but as you say quite easy to find.
Then I packed up the scope and called it a night:(

[mozzie]

after waiting for clear skies finally had my first look at comet garrad last night seeing was fair still a lot of moisture in thr air nice sight no visable tail no color keen to have another look tonight but its clouded in
mozzie

[Liz]

Just checked out the comet - doesnt appear as bright as last week, and still a 'fuzzball' with no tail. Located near Beta Corvus, though still officially in outer edges of Centaurus.

http://members.westnet.com.au/mmatti/sc.htm

[astroron]

Hi Liz, I am glad someone is doing some observing:)as it has been cloudy for the last couple of nights here:sadeyes:

[Liz]

Nice and clear here ... though observing with a couple of champagnes on board :) :):):) Comet also virtually straight overhead ... backbreaking stuff.
Wishing you clear skies :)

[astroron]

Good job your not doing Double Star observing:P

[mozzie]

set up my 8" dob monday night found comet garradd in corves moon was bright and some 10-15 deg away it was faint but the averted vision was needed to see the fuss ball i watched if for around 1 hour and my eyes ajusted and it was a little easier to see still impresive in a small scope tonight tuesday using starry night to find its position i was unable to see it in my 8"dob i was positive that i was in the right area but the moon only around 5 deg away and 60 percent bright it was washed out with moon light.ill try again in 10 days or so when the moon is further away and less bright
mozzie

[mozzie]

im using my dob at the moment the lx90 is getting a service can any body tell me the mag of the comet i want to try and see it tonight starry night is saying around 13 mag but it was saying that when it was around 7
mozzie

[astroron]

it's a more active comet than was envisaged when first observed:)
I have downloaded the latest ephemeris from CBAT and the magnitude is still calculated at 13. mag.
I have not seen it for a couple of weeks but I would guess that it should be around mag 7.5-8.0.
Weather permitting, which at the moment looks OK I will give it a whirl tonight
Comets being very unpredictable, making magnitude estimations when first discovered is a very inexact science.
:astron::stargaze:

[mozzie]

thanks ron the weather looks great here im set up ready for a good night hopefully garradd will be visable tonight
mozzie

[mozzie]

hi ron garradd was visable around 8 mag some 41 min from 21 virginis it wasnt as bright and clear as a month ago but whilst viewing it for around 1 hour and the seeing improved i did notice a star visable through the fuzzy glow did you happen to notice it it is quiet a sight
mozzie

[Outbackmanyep]

On the 9th July Q3 Garradd and M104 were in the same FOV, awesome sight!

[mozzie]

that would have been a sight i was all excited to have a look myself but as this year has been the weather came in
mozzie

[Outbackmanyep]

Q3 is still quite bright, mag 8.5 from obs tonight, dia= 8', DC= 5.

It's currently in a crowded field of galaxies, just be wary that you have the right fuzzy!