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Old 05-02-2013, 06:48 AM
fracs (Mike)
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fracs is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 3
Easy find of comet c/2012 F6

Inspired by this thread:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=100306

Found a break in the clouds on evening of 4th Feb. Used position information I obtained online. Managed to locate c/2012 F6 by hand with my 18" dob (SDM-063). Actual method as follows:

* Low power EP - 31mm, 82x, about 1 degree of sky.
* Used my Argo to point to the RA and Dec where comet should be.
* A few swoops by hand, and there she was.

Here's the (rough) position info from my records:
Date and Time: 04.02.2013, 11:00:00 UTC
RA: 16:30
Dec: -86d 25'

Through my scope, c/2012 F6 was larger than 47-Tuc and I would say a bit brighter also. I wasn't convinced I could see green/turquoise like I've read about elsewhere. It was generally a grey-white haze with an obvious nucleus. My observing site was the outer suburbs of Sydney.

Anyway, should be easy to find in binos. I encourage others to seek out this visitor if you haven't already done so.

Cheers,
Mike
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