Comet 9p Tempel 1

astroron (Ron) · #1 04-07-2005, 11:30 PM

Even though there was some cloud hovering around, I managed to get a look at the comet for about 2 hours on and off in between observations of M51 and the supernova,and at times cloud interfering, I didn't notice anything different in the shape of the comet from what it looked like on Saturday but the comet seemed a bit fainter, there was a galaxy in the same field MCG-2-35-10 with a given mag of 12.1 which has a 11 mag star in it, this galaxy seemed brighter than the comet which was very diffuse.
telescope used 16"F4.5 Newtonion Dob, 13mm Nagler and 9mm Plossl
Ceased observing at 21:00 due to cloud. astroron

Orion · #2 05-07-2005, 07:29 AM

I haven't had a chance to look at it yet to much cloud cover down here.
I thought the comet would have brightened up instead of it getting fainter.

rmcpb (Rob) · #3 05-07-2005, 08:23 AM

I have tried several times to find this comet with no luck. Disappointment again last night but, if its getting fainter I'm just not in luck.

dhumpie · #4 05-07-2005, 09:44 AM

Yup clouded over here too in Brissie. Did you say that there was no difference in brightness?

Darren

Smokey · #5 05-07-2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

I have tried several times to find this comet with no luck. Disappointment again last night but, if its getting fainter I'm just not in luck.

Rob......I,m glad I,m not the only one.

I tried last night between clouds, and couldnt distinguish it from other stars in the general area. I was using Cartes du Ciel as my guide, and I,m sure I was in the right area, but with no luck. I also tried about a week or so ago and couldnt find it.
At least I got to watch the vision from NASA

Cheers

Librarian64 · #6 05-07-2005, 10:51 AM

It was so faint in my LX-90 (8) that me and my mate figured we were probably imagining it; seeing it only because we wanted to.

The news made so much of it; hype as usual. "Oh, you'll be able to see it naked eye." and other such nonsense. I wish the media wouldn't sew unrealistic expectations in people's minds.

Anyway I had a lot more fun trying out my 30 mm super wide angle ep and 2 inch diagonal. The diagonal seems to be of much better quality than the cheap chinese factory one Meade provided.

ving (David) · #7 05-07-2005, 12:52 PM

I had a look last night too. I actually saw it on saturday night from linden. the seeing conditions werent great at the time and the others who were there said it was almost an averted vision object, but we saw it anyhow.
I expected it to brighten enough that it would look at least the same from my backyard. alas for some reason there seemed to be more light pollution that usual in my area and tho I found it it did seem alot fainter. A lpr filter helped a little but it's not what you'd call a stunning sight.

#8 05-07-2005, 04:23 PM

I detected a difinite brightining of the necleous. I been able to track it in my 8" newt for some weeks, since the end of May anyways. I found keeping tracking of it made it really easy to locate and observe for that matter. I would of love to have a crack at it in a 16" Newt. It's faint but not impossible

I have found for best result to keep the magnification around the 85x to 120x
mark.

Graig, have you been updating the comets ephemeris. Mine was out when I first started to track it at the end of May by around 13-15 arc-minutes.

Regards

Dave47tuc (David) · #9 05-07-2005, 04:59 PM

I hope to get a view tonight as its clear for the first time for a while

Will let you know how things go later.

Dave47tuc (David) · #10 05-07-2005, 09:19 PM

Well I updated Cartes, and after 1 hour of searching i cannot see it

If Cartes is right I know I have the right spot, But I think its to faint for my light polluted skies. I can only see down to 3rd Mag naked eye in that part of the sky from my place.

fringe_dweller · #11 05-07-2005, 10:00 PM

Just had a good long look in my suburban backyard with 8 inch newt/dob, mag 5-5.5 NE in the comets location, and down to 13+ mag stars in ep. Is obviously quite diffuse again (have read a report from US that it was going that way today) couldnt see the bright nucleus of last night, and not sure if I actually convincingly saw the comet at all tonight. Slice or Rob you have any joy with Comet 9P tonight guys?
Kearn

slice of heaven · #12 05-07-2005, 10:15 PM

It came over hazy and the pretty orange skyglow has ruined my views.
Picked it up earlier tonight while it was clear and the core is nowhere near as pronounced as last night.
Its still well situated so when conditions allow I'll follow it for a few more nights.
Seems like last night was THE night for this show, but you never know.

astroron (Ron) · #13 05-07-2005, 10:17 PM

I was unable to observ tonight due to cloud,on Saturday night it seemed brighter than on Monday at 19:00 , I looked at it a number of times as the cloud opened up and did a thourough observation and to me it seemed fainter. astroron

fringe_dweller · #14 05-07-2005, 10:31 PM

Thanks guys! It really is a 'dark sky and telecope only' kind of comet it seems :-( I hope it kicks back into life Slice, but our weather isnt looking great for the next few days possibly? I have to give my right eyeball a rest for a while - i really strained it tonight

trying to see 9P - got a headache now - wheres the panadols?
Kearn

iceman (Mike) · #15 06-07-2005, 05:37 AM

Hey you know what? Tempel 1 and this deep impact probe really should've had "IceInSpace" stickers all over it.. cause that's what it really is, right?

Orion · #16 06-07-2005, 08:01 AM

LOL Good one Mike!

ving (David) · #17 06-07-2005, 09:17 AM

mike, youre a dork!

hehehe!