Thanks Andrew!
Have attached an image of that data too if helps anyone a bit of fussing.....
I'm guessing elongation is separation from sun at sunset?
Rob, all the columns to the left of "Rise" are at the time in cell A3 - 08:41 UTC which is 18:41 AEST - so roughly sunset. The rest are absolute.
Naturally elevations have to be positive for it to be visible, and my figures assume my home elevation of 117 metres with no allowance for a depressed horizon.
That's not an easy one for me either. Can't do it from home. I have the streetlight constellation to the west. However I do have a mate with a western view. I'll have to see what he's doing in a week from now.
If the weather gods are kind (unlikley given the forecast ) I could get up on the local volcano with the 80mm and search west on Sunday evening.
Totally unviewable from SkySlab, aforementioned volcano gets in the way.
Any one got a pic of position for next week or two ?
Hi Brent, I was hoping you'd be able to have a go from your location.
If you scroll up, you'll see a couple of links- one by me on my original post given by David J. Eicher from Astronomy Magazine and another by Andrew.
I always break out in a chuckle when you say you're goingto climb a volcano How cool is that!
Hi Suzy, I've got a choice of them round here ... about 20 or so.
" Pick a volcano, any volcano ..."
Pulled down a pdf of the track from stargazerslounge but it looks like it is almost below horizon and in quite bright light for Sunday and won't get any better. So I think it's a nonstarter from my viewpoint unfortunately.
North Hemisphere guys will do better as it will be rising away from the sun. In our case it is getting worse.
My 'local' volcano about 400 meters behind the house has a biggish field on the western side, concealed water reservoir underneath so nice big flat grassed area with ideal west view. I photographed McNaught from there last time. And the gates are locked at night so no hoons or car lights to bother you. Has some nasty speed bumps as well which keeps them away.
I actually haven't used it yet but intend to get up there one day and get M31 which makes about 13* above horizon. The north views are pretty good as well and not too much LP in that direction.
Any one got a pic of position for next week or two ?
Here's the next month for Auckland, at sea level. From altitude the times would be a bit different. I don't think you have much chance before the 28th.
Get your own copy of CdC and the MPC ephemeris data.
For South East Queensland,Just checked the ephemeris and it says the comet will be visible in our sky's till it fades from view, so as it heads away from the Sun it will be visible later and later every night on the 31st july it will be 9 deg above the horison and set at half past seven, but that is the 3 days before Full Moon, so very bright sky.
Is there a chart anywhere? Can I load it into Stellarium?
For those that don't know how to add comets and asteroids to Stellarium I'll copy/paste a guide I did a while back.
Hopefully it will be of use to someone.
Quote:
I'm going to use Comet Garradd as an example and is the hot must see comet of the times but it is just as easy to select any other object you like.
It is however important that you upgrade Sellarium to the latest release for it to work.
1. Press F2 to open the "configuration" window. Under the "Plugins" tab in the "Configuration" window, select "Solar System Editor". Under "options" at the bottom of the tab, click the "Configure" button. A window for "Solar System; objects" will open. Under the "Solar System tab" of the "Solar System objects" window, click the "Import orbital elements in MPC format" button at the bottom of the tab. An "import data" window will open.
2.Under the "lists" tab of the "Import data" window, Select the "type" as "comets"; select the "source" as "download a list of objects from the internet"; under "or select from the list" click on "Select bookmark" and select "MPC's list of observable comets," and then click the button "get orbital elements." A list of objects found will load. Scroll down and check the box next to C/2009 Garradd, then click the "Add; objects". C/2009 Garradd will then be added to your solar system. Close the Solar System editor and Configuration window.
3. If you want to see where Garradd will be in the sky, you'll need to update your location and time.
4. Find Garradd. Press F3 to open the "Find object" window. Type in "C/2009 Garradd" and you should only see one choice "C/2009 Garradd" below the search box. Click the magnifying glass at the right of the search box to lock in on Garradd. It will automatically give you a view of the sky where Garradd is located.
Cheers for the tip on adding comets in Stellarium. I didn't even realise you could add objects in like that!
Make sure you have Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS in Stellarium too - this will hopefully reach mag 1 next March, all being well. Presently about mag14 + in Virgo ...from memory.
Stellarium gives you a good idea of what you can expect to see but CdC lets you generate much more helpful information as to when satellites and minor bodies will be visible.
Once you've predicted the position of an object it you can set the date and time in Stellarium to get the eye candy.
Liz, it's the last week of Feb and the first of Mar when C/2011 L4 is predicted to be mag 3.1 to 1.6 and visible after astronomical twilight in the southern hemishpere.
Last edited by mithrandir; 22-07-2012 at 04:28 PM.
Rain, rain, and more rain. It's been nonstop wet since Saturday and will continue through to next Thursday at least. Must be leftovers from someone in Australia who bought way too much new gear !!
So much for comet viewing ...
I'll investigate adding objects in Stellarium, always been a bit wary of playing around in there. Thanks for the help guide Jarrod..
Thanks for those lovely clear direction jarrod. I have it int here now, but cannot get the little handles to show. It has centred it Ok but of course it is very dark. Where do I fond how to turn the little handles on?
It will be a difficult target binocular wise, telescopically it should be do-able, even in moonlight, mind you you'll be fighting twilight, zodiacal light, atmospheric extinction, cloud, more cloud, encroaching moonlight and the fact the comet is getting fainter.....but if you're not out there looking you won't know for sure!
Thanks for those lovely clear direction jarrod. I have it int here now, but cannot get the little handles to show. It has centred it Ok but of course it is very dark. Where do I fond how to turn the little handles on?
Odile, roll the time forward to 2012-07-27 18:42:00 and see if the "handles" show up with 96P just on the horizon. Here are your predictions for the appropriate times.
Make sure you have Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS in Stellarium too - this will hopefully reach mag 1 next March, all being well. Presently about mag14 + in Virgo ...from memory.
i had a look for this one a little while back liz!!!!!!! didn't see anything but i will go and have a look at my notes to see....there's nothing else to do just cloud and rain......
Weather is slowly changing, might get to see some sky over the weekend. And with luck a comet and maybe some meteors as well.
Venus has been so bright in the eastern sky it actually shone through the clouds this morning !! They must be thinning a bit.
Got both Comets into Stellarium ok, thanks Jarrod.
), but a binocular one would be awesome.
