Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - discussions - Page 8

h0ughy (David) · #**141** 13-01-2007, 10:28 PM

dang this damn southerly change is socked us in with cloud. i saw on the news tonight all the elvis's in Parkes, and they had clear blue skies, and here on the coast we had cloud. not fair, elvis is dead and we have a live comet to see..............

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #**142** 13-01-2007, 10:43 PM

Yeah, totally unfair.
If I can't see it either tomorrow or monday I'll spit the dummy good and proper. I'll show those little kids in the supermarkets how it's really done.

tornado33 · #**143** 14-01-2007, 12:10 AM

Yes Elvis as popular as he was, has gotta take a back seat to this comet.

swannies1983 (Dan) · #**144** 14-01-2007, 01:28 AM

If you cant tell, im a little sad as i wont get a chance to see this comet as im over in europe at the moment (have been since boxing day....get back australia day). I hope the comet performs really well for you and ill just have to drool and dream of what it looked like when i get back to Oz

iceman (Mike) · #**145** 14-01-2007, 06:52 AM

Spaceweather is now reporting it at -5 magnitude, the brightest comet since 1965 (Ikeya-Seki)!!!

I hope these clouds clear, I'm going to try for it tonight!

glenc (Glen) · #**146** 14-01-2007, 07:02 AM

COMET C/2006 P1 (McNaught)
Total-magnitude and coma-diameter estimates (visual unless otherwise noted):
2007
Jan. 13.75, -5.2, -- (R. A. Keen, Mt. Thorodin, CO, U.S.A., naked eye, daylight; comp. with Venus; 0.3-deg tail in p.a. 60 deg);
13.66, -5:*, -- (A. Kammerer, Malsch, Germany, naked eye; alt. 4 deg; 5 min after sunset);
13.56, -6:, -- (A. Amorim, Florianopolis, Brazil, naked eye and sunglasses; daylight; comp. w/ Venus);
13.36, -4.7:*, -- (B. H. Granslo, Fjellhamar, Norway, 7x50 binoculars; 0.1-deg tail in p.a. 50 deg.; alt. 3.9 deg; after sunrise);
13.10, -5:, -- (S. J. O'Meara, Mauna Kea, HI, U.S.A., naked eye; daylight; 1-deg tail; comp. w/ Venus);
13.08, -4.0:, 1' (A. Pearce, Nedlands, W. Australia, 20x80 binoculars; comp. w/ Venus; 0.4-deg tail; daylight, near zenith);
12.91, -4.1, -- (C. S. Morris, Fillmore, CA, U.S.A., 20x80 binoculars; comp. w/ Venus; daylight; comet alt. 35 deg; tail about 0.5 deg long);
12.91, -4.5*, & 1' (J. Bortle, Stormville, NY, U.S.A., 10x50 binoculars; comp. with Venus in-focus; 0.1-deg tail; daylight);
12.84, -3.9*, -- (D. W. E. Green, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A., 20x80 binoculars; comp. w/ Venus; daylight; comet alt. 17 deg; short tail);
12.83, -4.0, -- (R. A. Keen, Mt. Thorodin, CO, U.S.A., 8x40 binoculars; comp. with Venus, in-focus; tail about 10' long in p.a. 30 deg);
12.73, -3.2*, -- (J. J. Gonzalez, Leon, Spain, naked eye; 1-deg tail in p.a. 35 deg; end of civil twilight);
12.71, -3.6, 0'.2 (R. A. Keen, Mt. Thorodin CO, U.S.A., 9-cm reflector; comp. with Venus; broad 1'.5 tail in spanning p.a. 20-70 deg);
12.67, -4.0, -- (V. Gonano, Udine, Italy, 10x50 binoculars; daylight; haze; tail about 0.5 deg long);
12.67, -4.0:*, -- (R. Haver, Roma, Italy, naked eye; alt. 3.0 deg; bright twilight and many cirrus clouds);
12.66, -3.9*, 2' (T. Scarmato, Calabria, Italy, naked eye; alt. 5 deg; tail about 2 deg long);
12.34, -3.3:*, 0'.5 (H. Dahle, Fjellhamar, Norway, 9x63 binoculars; 0.2-deg tail in p.a. 30 deg; alt. 4.4 deg.; at sunrise);
12.19, -4:, 1' (A. Pearce, Nedlands, W. Australia, 20x80 binoculars; 0.8-deg tail; daylight; rough estimate of brightness);

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/CometMags.html#2006P1

CometGuy · #**147** 14-01-2007, 07:18 AM

Yep Mike more good news, as predicted, forward Scattering of dust in the comet's coma and tail has kicked in and the comet has brightened even further overnight and brightness reports in the past 12 hours have put the comet brighter than Venus at mag -5! If you look at SOHO images you can clearly see the rise in brightness over the last 12 hours:

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/...e-c3-1024.html

The length of the horizontal blooming spike is the telltale indication of brightness.

Lots of people are reporting naked eye daylight sightings, but sky conditions have to be good. This is very rare opportunity so make the most of it if you can!

Terry

Deeno · #**148** 14-01-2007, 08:01 AM

Hey Mike

Got any ideas on where to view it from the Central Coast?

iceman (Mike) · #**149** 14-01-2007, 08:14 AM

Hey Dean.

I'm going to try:
a) the lookout in gosford
b) the old pacific hwy south of the reptile park (overlooking the freeway)
c) long jetty, over the lake
d) the entrance, over the lake

Got any other ideas?

Mikezoom · #**150** 14-01-2007, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Hey Dean.

I'm going to try:
a) the lookout in gosford
b) the old pacific hwy south of the reptile park (overlooking the freeway)
c) long jetty, over the lake
d) the entrance, over the lake

Got any other ideas?

The Skillion?

Deeno · #**151** 14-01-2007, 08:35 AM

I was thinking maybe Rumbalara (spelling?) but I think they shut the gate at 8pm.
Along Peats Ridge Road between the freeway and the Wismans Ferry turn off.
The Skillion could be a good idea

dennisjames1 · #**152** 14-01-2007, 09:40 AM

Yes the weather seems to be an issue just when you are looking for that clear view, hopefully the comet will stay brighter for longer that predicted, be nice if it does as it climbs higher in the south western sky early evening over the next week, what are the predictions for magnitude ?

tornado33 · #**153** 14-01-2007, 10:25 AM

As I type my 10 inch f5.6 newtonian is on the comet now, drive on of course. So close to the sun the sun is focussing just in from the tube but still clear of the secondary. Wow despite the bright sky the comet is brilliant, can easily be seen and focussed on in camera viewfinder. Utterly incredible sight. Now VERY condensed seemingly smaller even than Uranus now. Good news, its now south of the Sun so a sunset viewing is definately the go for seeing its tail now. Gee this is the 4th day running where Ive seen a daytime comet, and its been getting brighter all the time.
I will post up images on the other thread later on.
Scott

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #**154** 14-01-2007, 01:41 PM

WOW what a sight, I am watching it now with my 8" f6, I have the apature stopped down to 50mm to stop the sun from hitting the primary, the comet looks awesome bright condences nucleus with a slight hint of a tail coming off it. I threw the toucam in and took a few shots with it, it was easily focused in the camera. Showed my 5yo son and my wife, both were equally impressed which is good.

lepton3 (Ivan) · #**155** 14-01-2007, 02:19 PM

It's naked eye visible right now!

Use the eaves of a building as a sun block. Stand in the shadow and look up just to the east and south of the sun. You will see it.

Awesome in 12x50 binoculars as well.

!!!!!! Please be careful observing near the sun !!!!!!

Ivan

Mikezoom · #**156** 14-01-2007, 02:26 PM

Still a fair amount of smoke here, making it very hard to spot. Will keep trying.

Mike.

davidpretorius · #**157** 14-01-2007, 02:32 PM

thanks ivan, have just found it thru my guide scope

WOW, this is a fantastic event

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #**158** 14-01-2007, 02:43 PM

Still battling high cloud coming from the south and low cloud from the north.
As soon one clears the other takes its place.

davidpretorius · #**159** 14-01-2007, 03:08 PM

guide scope, 8x50 binos and now naked eye.

3 fingers widths SE of sun, 1/2 fingerwidth at extension in length

wow wow wow wow!

gaa_ian (Ian) · #**160** 14-01-2007, 03:51 PM

As soon as the clouds clear I'm there !