Supernova 2005df in NGC 1559

[Greg Bryant]

It's certainly nice to see amateurs still making finds despite the presence of the surveys. Looking at the comet statistics, and excluding SOHO finds, the number of amateur discoveries (with the number representing visual discoveries in brackets) over the last ten years is:
2005: 1 (0)
2004: 3 (2)
2003: 1 (0)
2002: 7 (5)
2001: 1 (1)
2000: 1 (1)
1999: 6 (3)
1998: 4 (2)
1997: 4 (3)
1996: 4 (3)

There was even a recent discovery made by amateurs using the SWAN camera onboard SOHO - C/2005 P3 (SWAN). It was faintly visible through amateur scopes in the Northern Hemisphere.

[Greg Bryant]

There's another huge survey about to become operational - Pan-STARRS.

http://pan-starrs.ifa.hawaii.edu/public/

It will have the ability to detect supernovae/novae as well as comets/asteroids.

[Greg Bryant]

1) Astroron,

With regard to supernova discoveries, the surveys can't image all the galaxies all the time. So, an amateur can still look at a galaxy that may not have been imaged by the surveys in a week or more, and hit the jackpot as supernovae rise very quickly in brightness.

2) Kearn,

Regarding LINEAR and NEAT comets, they're still being discovered but it's true that none of the recent finds show promise for the future. The next one may well be currently deep in the southern sky, below the horizons of LINEAR and NEAT, but potentially catchable by the Siding Spring Survey.

But that's not to say that there isn't anything bright coming up. Some short-period comets are of interest.

Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 split in 1995, and at least two of its fragments are expected to return next year. If those fragments behave like they did at their last return in 2000/1, the brightest one may reach 3rd or even 2nd magnitude in May as it passes very close to Earth.

Close approaches are also to explain for some other periodic comets that are expected to approach the naked-eye mark over the next decade or so - comets 8P/Tuttle at 6th magnitude in 2 years, and 103P/Hartley 2 at 4th magnitude in 5 years are two examples that come to mind.

[fringe_dweller]

Woops! yes sorry I should said no bright LINEAR's or NEAT's on the future horizon - and i forgot about 73P (but it wouldnt of been for long ) Starting to have withdrawals now! I love using Seiichi Yoshida's page for a reminder of whats coming up, if I need it http://www.aerith.net/comet/future-s.html
I agree - the amateur discoveries are a long way from over - specially SN's and variable flare ups ect. this page has an interesting graph re this subject, I note the southern observers actually went up in the period covered. http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zs3t-tk/...met_hunter.htm
cant find info on how far south dec. Pan-STARRS will search? I think its a least 60º south in dec. from memory? man thats gonna be the big daddy of surveys that one eh!
and i have to correct something - LINEAR searches to dec. 30º south.
also the full moon periods are survey free I believe.
kearn

[astroron (Ron)]

I have enjoyed this thread, it has brought out a lot of information for other IIC members and myself
I hope LINEAR OR NEAT find a Comet real soon or it's going to be a long time befor you and your friends have a holiday As has been mentioned by Greg and yourself it's been a long time between drinks since we had a nice bright Comet but when it comes we will all be happy.
Thanks for putting me streight on Bill Bradfields total, I had some corrispondance with him some years ago, great bloke. Cheers astroron

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by astroron

In my book what I call bright are comets that get to be seen in twilight or daylight such as Hale-Bopp, Hyaukataki, West, and Ikaya- Seki.

Ron,

The 1st Celestial Body I ever looked at was Bennett's Comet in 1970. I was only 11 years old and my mother told me the night before she was going to wake me at 4:00am to look at "something special" in the sky. Well prior to looking, I was under the impression that nothing in the sky was special enough to wake at 4:00am to look at

From the 1st glimpse I was hooked, I was amazed that something so bright with a long tail like that could even exist in the night sky. Unfortunately at the time my parents nor I, knew anything about Comets or Astronomy and we only owned a small pair of binos, but it was the ember that started the fire. Since that time I have had a love affair with big bright naked eye comets, not that there is an over abundance of them. Surprisingly, I don't really have much interest in observing the dimmer comets telescopically or in binoculars for that matter, they just don't row my boat.

CS-John B

[astroron (Ron)]

I have loved Comets since Halley in 1986, but my favourite is Hyukataki, I used to watch it everynight from my observatory and my other home in Redcliffe for months when one night the tail appeard, I drove up here to my observatory at about seven thirty on the night which was a thursday and stayed up till it dissapeared then called in sick the next day and had the most fantastic comet observing weekend I have ever had.
Comet Hale -Bopp was good but I think not as good as Hyukataki, Hale-Bopp was probably better for Northern Hemisphere observers because it was a night time Comet,it was an evening Comet and fairly low for me, it set earlier because of some hills,but still good.astroron

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by astroron

I hope LINEAR OR NEAT find a Comet real soon or it's going to be a long time befor you and your friends have a holiday

Thanks Ron LOL me too! I have enjoyed this thread very much too.
and i hope you find a new SN soon as well!

Halleys in '86 was my first comet too - and Comet Hyakutake was very, very special from dark skies maybe 'once in a lifetime' as they say, the most amazing thing I have ever seen i reckon - we did the same weekend too.
It has been said before, but it is funny how these bright comets spark the flames of so many of us and peoples interest in astronomy/photography. And its also interesting to me that so many of these sparks come from the maternal sides of families. My mate who made both my scopes, and lots of others, told me once that that he originally got the bug from his grandmother when he was young telling him about the Halleys comet visit in 1910 she saw when she was a girl (although I think it was more likely it was The Great Daylight Comet of 1910 - it is common that they are mixed up - it was much more speccy) he told me, she said it was so bright it cast shadows!!. I have read almost identical stories like this relating to this comet and grandmothers/mothers sparking an early interest in some well known amateurs.
Cheers
Kearn