Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - discussions - Page 28

fringe_dweller · #**541** 27-01-2007, 09:21 PM

pretty handy P1's peak time occuring around the time of a 'major lunar standstill' year, just gone, in the metonic cycle (note: i'm not an expert on this btw, just an observation) - wow timing - that moons been low in the north for us here, just of late, and with the comet in the southern skies!, and will be at least for this period :-)

fringe_dweller · #**542** 27-01-2007, 09:29 PM

JJ - I am thinking the small and larger thingys that make up the present tail will be kaput, toast - and eventually smoke?

I have to admit, I do like your self-recycling comet tail theory tho

- that would be better - maybe!? who knows

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #**543** 27-01-2007, 11:01 PM

Stranger theories have come true.

astroron (Ron) · #**544** 27-01-2007, 11:20 PM

jjj I saw the comet for about an hour tonight and didn't even aft to leave home

it was brilliant easy naked eye till the last moment befor going below the hill at 20:15, the tail was visible till 20:30 even with the first quarter moon

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #**545** 28-01-2007, 12:06 PM

Last night was pretty good, though the moon was causing serious interference with viewing the tail.
I wonder how much more it will have faded come next new moon?

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #**546** 28-01-2007, 12:12 PM

Re. the fate of comet tails.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...il_000405.html
Here's a small excerpt:-

Scientists say the Ulysses-Hyakutake collision will help comet experts understand the life cycle and fate of comets, which many think of as prehistoric relics from the earliest days of the solar system. In particular, the discovery of such a long comet tail invites astronomers to believe that they may find and study past comets whose tails are still intact.

"Nobody really believed that you could have a comet tail this long," said Gloeckler. "They thought it would break up, dissipate, and it would be so diluted, you wouldnt see it at all. But now with this kind of measurement, its clear that these tails stay intact far longer."

JohnG (John) · #**547** 28-01-2007, 10:50 PM

It was one of those nights tonight. Had all the neighbours looking at the comet tonight down here, the sky was clear and steady and the comet stood out clearly with the tail stretching some 15-20 degrees. Whilst they were looking, the ISS made a brilliant pass overhead, that bought out some ooh's and ar's, almost immediately there was an Iridium flare which most of them saw followed by a further 3 satelite passes followed by another Iridium flare.

Everyone completely enjoyed the experience, they still havn't stopped talking about it.

One of those nights.

I had the impression that the tail was brighter than last night.

Cheers

JohnG

h0ughy (David) · #**548** 28-01-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

It was one of those nights tonight. Had all the neighbours looking at the comet tonight down here, the sky was clear and steady and the comet stood out clearly with the tail stretching some 15-20 degrees. Whilst they were looking, the ISS made a brilliant pass overhead, that bought out some ooh's and ar's, almost immediately there was an Iridium flare which most of them saw followed by a further 3 satelite passes followed by another Iridium flare.

Everyone completely enjoyed the experience, they still havn't stopped talking about it.

One of those nights.

I had the impression that the tail was brighter than last night.

Cheers

JohnG

great stuff, any pics John?

JohnG (John) · #**549** 28-01-2007, 11:10 PM

Not tonight David, visual only, posted some from last night in the McNaught images thread.

Cheers

JohnG

dcnicholls · #**550** 28-01-2007, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

I had the impression that the tail was brighter than last night.

I thought so too. Probably because the moon was a bit further away in the sky. I could see about 12-14 degrees of main tail with direct vision over city lights tonight, compared to about 10 degrees last night at the same time and from the same location (western end of Red Hill reserve, Canberra). The LMC was a little less easy to see tonight, so it wasn't air clarity.

DN

loomberah (Gordon) · #**551** 29-01-2007, 05:23 AM

I'm just back inside to escape from the violent southerly blowing here on the mountain tonight. The comet is easy and quite obvious to the naked eye with 15 degrees of tail.
I had to crouch down and physically hold the tracking mount to stop it moving in the wild wind gusts, and its relatively sheltered by being a couple of metres back from the edge of the low cliff, and the legs are set low. Pics later.

cheers, Gordon

Cranium · #**552** 29-01-2007, 08:36 AM

Hi folks... just joined this site after spying something curious this morning at ~5.37am here in Christchurch (I guess that's ~1637UT) and finding this to be the closest active McNaught forum! I was trying to find McNaught using Jupiter and Mars as reference but the sky was a little too bright I fear. I was staring at the area of sky I expected the comet to occupy when I saw a bright 'flash', lasting perhaps 1 second, and of magnitude comparable to Jupiter's. Now this wasn't the flash one might expect to see if one was lucky enough to witness a supernova, as it travelled slightly over its duration. I'd love to think I witnessed some explosive event related to McNaught but of course I could also have seen a head-on fireball or something in orbit catching the sun's light. I guess either of these possibilities would be in a different part of the sky as viewed from Oz. Anyway, love to know if anyone witnessed anything heaven-ward at this time!

matt · #**553** 29-01-2007, 08:43 AM

Most likely an Iridium (satellite) catching the sun and flaring up

JohnG (John) · #**554** 29-01-2007, 10:00 AM

Hi all

Was up at 0450 this morning and found the comet to be a very obvious morning object now, rising in the South East, a different perspective watching it go from the dark morning sky to twilight and fading out of view.

Worth it though.

Cheers

JohnG

erick (Eric) · #**555** 29-01-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

Hi all

Was up at 0450 this morning and found the comet to be a very obvious morning object now, rising in the South East, a different perspective watching it go from the dark morning sky to twilight and fading out of view.

Worth it though.

Cheers

JohnG

And you get to pack up you gear in daylight!!

Garyh · #**556** 29-01-2007, 01:31 PM

Hi all,
Is it worth getting up to see the comet before sunrise for my latitude? Mid north coast N.S.W. or am I too far north?
How high above the horizon and what time would be best to see it rising?
Cheers Gary

JohnG (John) · #**557** 29-01-2007, 02:13 PM

Hi Gary

I am at 36 25 South, so your only a couple of degrees North of me, my opinion it is worthwhile, the comet was well clear of the horizon here at 0450 this morning, rising in the South-East.

Worth the effort I think.

Cheers

JohnG

iceman (Mike) · #**558** 29-01-2007, 02:40 PM

Don't forget to check out the interview (done by matt) with Rob McNaught right here on IceInSpace!

Interview with Rob McNaught

What an interesting life!

Garyh · #**559** 29-01-2007, 03:35 PM

Thanks John and Mike!! shall check that out..
If its clear tomorrow morn I might head off to a good horizon!!! none at home to many mountains..
Cheers Gary

jodee · #**560** 29-01-2007, 05:40 PM

hey there,ive just joined this group cos ive been watching the comet for two weeks with my naked eye,exciting,but scary also, does anyone care to talk me out of thinking it may hit the earth???Seriously.