Three Comets Observed

astroron (Ron) · #1 21-03-2009, 11:17 PM

I was able to observe three comets tonight before the clouds came on

Comet C2009 E1 Itagaki ONLY 8 degs above the horizon and in twilight, I estimate it to be about mag 10-11 ,it was just a fuzzy ball with no other detail.
I then went to another Japanese comet, 144P Kushida which at about mag 12 was a bit more of a challenge but was easily seen as a round haze against the background stars.
Comet C2007 N3 LuLin is about mag 8.5 an I could not see any Hint of a tail even though it seemed a little extended.
I then did a galaxy tour of Dorado using the ARGO NAVIS tour mode before calling it a night because of intermittent cloud

A short but sweet observing session

Kevnool (Kev) · #2 22-03-2009, 02:50 AM

Great short report Ron Also keep an eye out for comet kopff in Sagittarius early in the morn. Starry night is reporting it as mag 8.
Cheers Kev.

glenc (Glen) · #3 22-03-2009, 06:01 AM

Congratulations Ron.
I saw Lulin last night with 20x80s. It was brighter and larger than the mag 8.4 Crab nebula M1.
Guide 8 says Kopff is mag 10 and 3.5 degrees east of the OC M25 but recent estimates put it at mag 12.

GEORGE · #4 22-03-2009, 06:16 PM

What do i need on my telescope to analyze star light,to determine their spectral type

astroron (Ron) · #5 22-03-2009, 06:30 PM

You will need some form of spectrograph,see this thread for what it entails.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=40143
And welcome to iceinspace.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 22-03-2009, 09:23 PM

3 comets in one night!
Glad you had a good night Ron.

anthony.tony · #7 22-03-2009, 10:14 PM

Has anyone spotted Comet C/2007 Q3 .

Jen · #8 22-03-2009, 11:28 PM

sounds like you had a great night there Ron cheers

astroron (Ron) · #9 22-03-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony.tony

Has anyone spotted Comet C/2007 Q3 .

I will give it a go tomorrow night, it is in Columba, and at given mag at 11.9 so should not be to difficult

anthony.tony · #10 23-03-2009, 07:01 PM

Thanks for looking I have had a couple of goes and not picked it Visually. Tony.

glenc (Glen) · #11 25-03-2009, 08:14 AM

I looked at Lulin with my 12" Dob last night at 70 times. The tail was about 30' long, half of my 65' field.

astroron (Ron) · #12 27-03-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony.tony

Thanks for looking I have had a couple of goes and not picked it Visually. Tony.

Tony , I observed Comet C2007 Q3 Siding Spring,it is quite small, when first observed at 19:10 Qld time, 09:10 UT 13mm Nagler was close to a mag 11.7 star which gave the appearance of a faint double star with the top one being slightly fuzzy, I estimate the comet to be close to Mag 12.
Using a 6mm Radian was able to see a slightly elongated ball brighter in the middle, to faint for any hint of a tail.
I tried to see it using a 30mm eyepiece (60x mag) and I could not make it out as a comet
In one and a half hours The comet was seen moving quite noticeable against the background stars.
Comet N3 LuLin is fading quite quickly IMOP.
I had a look at some galaxies in Coma Berenices from Les's article in ASand Tel for April befor the clouds rolled in again

gary · #13 28-03-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

I was able to observe three comets tonight before the clouds came on

Hi Ron,

Great to read you were about to knock off three visually in one night!
Well done!

Three of us had no difficulty in seeing a wisp of a tail last weekend on Lulin through 20" of aperture.
A nice object and we will have have another go tonight through Andrew's 25".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevnool

Great short report Ron Also keep an eye out for comet kopff in Sagittarius early in the morn. Starry night is reporting it as mag 8.
Cheers Kev.

Hi Kev,

I am particularly interested in hearing of observations or seeing images
of 22P Kopff this time around. I observed it in 1996 and it was particularly
challenging against the backdrop of the Sagittarius star field. A finder
chart is recommended.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Mt Kuring-Gai

anthony.tony · #14 28-03-2009, 03:58 PM

Thanks for the report on Q3 Siding spring that explains why I have been hanving trouble trying to see it.. I will have a go tonight . Tony

astroron (Ron) · #15 31-03-2009, 05:56 PM

I spent quite a bit of time last night, last observation about 03:30 AM trying for Comet 22P Kopff, and was unable to positively identify the comet.

The transparency was brilliant but the seeing had a lot to be desired, with the stars all looking like a planetary Nebula

The comet is in a very crowded star field and the only thing I can think off is that the comet is very starlike

I will keep trying for this one

gary · #16 01-04-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

I spent quite a bit of time last night, last observation about 03:30 AM trying for Comet 22P Kopff, and was unable to positively identify the comet.

The transparency was brilliant but the seeing had a lot to be desired, with the stars all looking like a planetary Nebula

The comet is in a very crowded star field and the only thing I can think off is that the comet is very starlike

I will keep trying for this one

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the report and for having another shot of it last night. Thanks also
for your telephone call yesterday describing the weekend's attempt.

Our observing location on Saturday has obstructed views to the East, so
it was probably not until 2am when Sagittarius started to appear through
the trees. The dew was so heavy by that stage that everything was fogging
up so the opportunity didn't present itself to have a shot at it. Unfortunately
it has been raining heavily ever since.

In 1996, looking for it in Sagittarius was extremely tough and we would go
out each night with a fresh finder chart showing the FOV with SAO stars on it.
With the core of the Milky Way as the backdrop, visually looking for the one odd
fuzzy star that doesn't belong is challenging. A real needle in the haystack at the
time.

Like you, we will keep trying!

Very interested to hear of any other reports.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Mt Kuring-Gai

astroron (Ron) · #17 01-04-2009, 11:54 AM

No luck again last night, mist rolled in around midnight

I waited up till 02:00 to see if it would but no dice

Comet 2007 Q3 Siding Spring was a lot easier to observe as it gets higher in the sky.
The tail of Comet 2007 N3 LuLin was seen a a faint gossamer brightening against the background starlit sky

Outbackmanyep · #18 01-04-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony.tony

Has anyone spotted Comet C/2007 Q3 .

Hi,
I saw Q3 Siding Spring twice last week and it's around mag 12.
My official obs are below:

C/2006 Q3 Siding Spring
2009 March 28.45 UT; m1= 11.8; Dia= 1.4'; DC= 6; 14" SCT, f/11, (x98)
Coma extension to South with small broad tail, roughly 2' long.

astroron (Ron) · #19 29-04-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary

Hi Ron,

Great to read you were about to knock off three visually in one night!
Well done!

Three of us had no difficulty in seeing a wisp of a tail last weekend on Lulin through 20" of aperture.
A nice object and we will have have another go tonight through Andrew's 25".

Hi Kev,

I am particularly interested in hearing of observations or seeing images
of 22P Kopff this time around. I observed it in 1996 and it was particularly
challenging against the backdrop of the Sagittarius star field. A finder
chart is recommended.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Mt Kuring-Gai

Hi Gary I was able on three occasions to observe Comet 22P Kopff

It is much fainter than the given Mag 8.6 it is quite diffusse and has a fan shape.
No coma was noticed but movement against the background stars was seen over about an hour.
Have you seen it yet?
I was able to also see Q3 Siding Spring which is quite small and very little detail.
Cheers

gary · #20 03-05-2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

Hi Gary I was able on three occasions to observe Comet 22P Kopff

It is much fainter than the given Mag 8.6 it is quite diffusse and has a fan shape.
No coma was noticed but movement against the background stars was seen over about an hour.
Have you seen it yet?
I was able to also see Q3 Siding Spring which is quite small and very little detail.
Cheers

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the report and great to hear you were able to see it.
Also thanks for the phone call.

Last time we were out it dewed up before it rose.

Next chance will be Coona at the end of the month and apart from a flock
of 18" scopes, two 20"'s and two 25"'s, there will be a brand new SDM 30" there,
all fitted with the best telescope computer money can buy.

So we should have no trouble locating it and then seeing it.

Plus a pair of 25 x 150 Fujinon binoculars will be there for cruising.

It certainly was a very diffuse comet last time it was here.

Best regards

Gary Kopff
Mt Kuring-Gai