Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - discussions - Page 23

CometGuy · #**441** 21-01-2007, 04:19 PM

Kearn,

I attempted to make some brightness estimates of the tail last night be defocusing mag 1.7 Alnair above. To my eyes much of the vertical section of tail was more intense than the Alnair defocused 1/2 degree or so (and Alnair was higher!). I haven't done the numbers but the total brightness of the tail must be much brighter than Venus. I got the impression last night that the coma was not overally prominent compared to the tail, but it was still mag -0.5 according to my estimations. My images last night also show a clear reflection over a lake, even though the surface was choppy.

Terry

CoombellKid · #**442** 21-01-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CometGuy

It was a long time coming but we finally got the Great Southern Comet!
Terry

You can almost feel the vib of envy seeping down from the northern hemisphere.

regards,CS

mickoking · #**443** 21-01-2007, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoombellKid

You can almost feel the vib of envy seeping down from the northern hemisphere.

regards,CS

They have Polaris what more do they want

fringe_dweller · #**444** 21-01-2007, 04:47 PM

Hi Terry,
wow! thats very interesting!! excellent and examplary obs as usual!

Stewart's exclaimed straight away woah! thats an easy mag 0 on the 10 or so degrees of the earlier naked eye vertical eminating from the blazing head! *at an immediate impression level* and I agreed, altho I couldnt believe that to be true!, so thought maybe between 0 and +2 as a conservative value, but after reading your much more thorough examination of total brightness (ours was done very roughly on the fly between clouds and wiping seasalt? and rain from our face)
I also agree wholeheartedly the mid wider/higher section of the non stem tail, roughly, was much brighter than the milky way!!, as you mentioned ina an earlier report from friday/thursday?
btw the main straighter defined tail, stemming from the head (that started at around NE 10+d ) and reached over NE 30d in height (EDIT:from the horizon -Stewart dexcribed as a 'searchlight' agreed - altho the last 20 d wasnt as bright as the first 10d of course) by the time we left!!! - keeping its straight appearence and only arcing at the top - that was a very unusual sight experience indeed! it just kept filling in the in the growing arc!!
edit: hmmm just thinking, we thought the head was still much brighter than the first part of the tail still!? just our impression tho - not exactly proper obs

MrB (Simon) · #**445** 21-01-2007, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

edit: hmmm just thinking, we thought the head was still much brighter than the first part of the tail still!? just our impression tho - not exactly proper obs

I'll go along with that.

Apocrisiary (Michael) · #**446** 21-01-2007, 05:25 PM

Ahhhh...but don't forget that magnitudes (for extended objects) are based on the brightness of the object if you squished all the light down to a point source. Eg: The Helix which has a magnitude of 6.5 spread over its 960 arc sec diameter makes it appear quite dim (low surface brightness).
Now does anyone want to make an estimate of the area of sky covered by the comet in arc seconds?
From that we can work out comet's magnitude to be???

If anyone can do the calculations I would be interested to know.

fringe_dweller · #**447** 21-01-2007, 05:52 PM

Thats true of course Apocisiary!

I would just add 'officially' a comets 'magnitude' is a term only that applies to the brightness of the head of course, but on your suggestion it would be very cool to know what total area brightness got to/gets to? is there more to come even!? this gets stranger and stranger! I like comet stats

some people love cricket/footy stats - i like comet statistics too

Apocrisiary (Michael) · #**448** 21-01-2007, 06:50 PM

I know that's not how it is measured officially but thought it would be an interesting calculation when you consider the enormous area over which the tail is visible.
A truely extraordinary sight indeed. I feel frustrated for the people who haven't been able to get out and see it yet.

mickoking · #**449** 21-01-2007, 07:54 PM

On the countdown to tonights view. I noticed a few clouds on the western horizon, hope its not too distracting. I hope all goes well for those who haven't seen the comet yet

may all have clear skies.

matt · #**450** 21-01-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickoking

On the countdown to tonights view. I noticed a few clouds on the western horizon, hope its not too distracting. I hope all goes well for those who haven't seen the comet yet

may all have clear skies.

I second that, Mick.

I feel fortunate to have viewed this comet twice.

I hope those who haven't had the opportunity yet get a chance very soon

swannies1983 (Dan) · #**451** 21-01-2007, 08:48 PM

My countdown is still going. I get back to Adelaide from Europe on Australia Day. I hope the comet is still performing well when I get back!!

badabing82 · #**452** 21-01-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CometGuy

Had a marvelous view last night from near Warwick QLD. I saw Hyakutake near its best in perfect conditions and also Hale-Bopp under excellent conditions from the Rocky Mountains in the US and can definitely say that McNaught is a more spectacular comet than either comet. McNaughts tail is larger and brighter than either HB or Hyakutake.

It was a long time coming but we finally got the Great Southern Comet!

Terry

Have to agree here HB was brighter but more condensed while Hyakutake was dimmer i have to agree that Mcnaught is a good balance. anyway clear sky's to all time for viewing yeehaaaaa

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #**453** 21-01-2007, 10:26 PM

H-B and McN are just too diferent for easy comparison.

H-B was absolutely magnificent, dominating the winter skies in the northern hemisphere for months - bright, massive and two amazing tails.

McN on the other hand has turned out to be celestial firework gyrating across the skies in an almost improbable manner. Short lived, difficult but quite incredible.

I'm just pleased to have seen them both at their best!!!

davidpretorius · #**454** 21-01-2007, 10:32 PM

ok, got to drop my jaw at this one tonight

i estimate 25+ degrees from head to tail and 7 - 10 degrees wide at the top.

this dominated the night sky!!!

WOW

Ric · #**455** 21-01-2007, 11:42 PM

Got my second viewing of McNaught tonight, there was a great window between two cloud banks and it was just as spectacular.
Sometimes amateur astronomy is just the bee's knees.

Cheers

MrB (Simon) · #**456** 22-01-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickoking

On the countdown to tonights view. I noticed a few clouds on the western horizon, hope its not too distracting. I hope all goes well for those who haven't seen the comet yet

may all have clear skies.

Yep, said cloud bank obscured my view. Didn't even bother leaving home tonight, for the first time in a week! Did see a small amount of tail above the cloud tho.

Still, two bad nights and five good ones to date, I'm happy

Grinz · #**457** 22-01-2007, 01:03 AM

Hello all - last evening after coming back from another look at this amazing comet I was feeling quite disoriented - almost too much of a high. We here were also treated at the same time with a most striking and beautiful occultation of Venus: imagine a view of Table Bay with the comet blazing close to the mountain towards the Southwest and Venus suddenly peeking out from the small crescent of the moon at the Northwestern side. Quite, quite lovely. My simple digital camera could not capture the scene, but some of my observing buddies took pictures and I will share one here with you once I have seen their photos.

McNaught truly is special. The coma is nice through a scope, but I agree with the rest of you - it is its naked eye splendour and the finer details of the seemlingly endless tail via binoculars that grip the imagination.

badabing82 · #**458** 22-01-2007, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

H-B and McN are just too diferent for easy comparison.

H-B was absolutely magnificent, dominating the winter skies in the northern hemisphere for months - bright, massive and two amazing tails.

McN on the other hand has turned out to be celestial firework gyrating across the skies in an almost improbable manner. Short lived, difficult but quite incredible.

I'm just pleased to have seen them both at their best!!!

I Envy you!!!! haha i was looking more from the point of view of the southern hemisphere observer...H-B in the states would have been amazingggg....
Whats does everyone think will Mcnaught become a better photo graphic target even not as bright but in fully dark sky's near the zenith? some of the photo's have been amazingggggggg....

Regards Daniel

horst · #**459** 22-01-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grinz

We here were also treated at the same time with a most striking and beautiful occultation of Venus: imagine a view of Table Bay with the comet blazing close to the mountain towards the Southwest and Venus suddenly peeking out from the small crescent of the moon at the Northwestern side.

Awesome
that's one of my favourite APOTDs from last year
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061030.html

Outbackmanyep · #**460** 22-01-2007, 04:51 PM

Well i know my post is a bit late but every day after work for the past 8 days i have been out looking at P1.........words cant describe exactly how awesome the sight was....especially seeing the synchrones for the first time!
As a regular comet watcher its been a fantastic experience.....i've had awesome dark country skies here in Walcha and the comet is something i will NEVER forget.....
I'm photographing at every opportunity and its great to see so many excellent pics coming out of this whole thing from everyone involved!

Have clouds and thunderstorms here at the moment and im hoping they'd go away!!!.....
Hope to have my pics developed very soon!!!!!

Cheers!
Chris