If you haven't seen comet McNaught yet...

[mojo (Terry)]

If you're like a lot of people (including me ) that hasn't seen the comet yet, take heart.
What follows are words of wisdom by Greg Bryant from the McNaught Discussion thread to bring it to the attention of the (so far) disappointed folk.

Originally Posted by Greg Bryant

The general newspapers and various websites have indeed given this comet too much hype for these first few days. The comet is:

(1) against a very bright sky background currently, and

(2) the viewing angle has us nearly seeing the comet from nearly behind (hence the surge in brightness due to "forward scattering")...which might be OK if it was close, but it's more than 0.8 AU away. The tail is therefore very foreshortened.

Wait till later this week when we'll see it against a darker sky background.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Greg left one out Terry:

(3) An Australia wide cloud blanket.

[skies2clear]

Don't despair, hopefully you'll get a view of it soon.

To encourage you, I looked for the first time yesterday (15th) just at sunset, and spotted the comet very low about in line with the set sun from my suburb in Adelaide. Looking over the city, but still saw it with 7X50 binos first, then a better look with 20X90 binos. The nucleus is bright and the tail spreads reasonably wide, which was easily noticeable with either binos. As it got lower in the sky and background light reduced, you could spot the nucleus with the naked eye, but very low above the horizon. Hopefully will improve over the next few days. Worth persisting for sure,

Cheers.

[leon]

I had intended to wait to a bit later in the week, if ever the smoke dissappears.

Cheers leon

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Are we allowed to cut down all the interferring trees in the mountains to get a squiz??

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Are we allowed to cut down all the interferring trees in the mountains to get a squiz??

Of course! - have to get our priorities right here!

But, please don't try to burn them down


Alternative - be patient for a few more days and the trees won't be a problem any more.

[mickoking]

I have been busy with other Non Astronomy projects to have seen it yet. But I will give it a squiz tomorrow night

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by mickoking

I have been busy with other Non Astronomy projects

Blasphemy!!!

[ving (David)]

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Are we allowed to cut down all the interferring trees in the mountains to get a squiz??

just put them back up when you are finished rob

[maksutover]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Blasphemy!!!

HAHA indeed !!! BURN HIM!!!

[bloodhound31]

Last night I took the scope up to mount stromlo and got superb views of it no probs at all. Even through the smoke haze blowing up from victoria and cooma. Magnificent. Only wish I had 2 scopes so i dont have to share the eyepiece!

Baz

[mickoking]

She'll be right. The comet will be there tomorrow the stars for a bit longer. Forgive my heresy

[Ric]

I thought that I might have been the only one left that hasn't seen it.
For me it has smoke haze then more smoke haze and now clouds.

But I'm determined and there is still a few good days left.

Cheers

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

My boys and I have been set up each sunset for the last 3 days now!!!!

2 pair of Binoculars, 3 Scopes and the Toucam at the ready!

Blasted smoke and cloud we still haven't seen it

[ving (David)]

keep at it ken, its hanging around for a bit i recon