Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - discussions - Page 26

netwolf · #**501** 23-01-2007, 10:43 PM

Well I always look for Venus and go about 3 maybe 3.5 fist widths over to the left of it and then scan up an down there. You need to wait at least half hour to 45mins after sunset to see it with the naked eye or even binos. The description you gave of a torch light is the same i used to tell my mate on the first night I saw it.

I have seen it on the 16th 18th 19th 20th and 22nd. The first night I had to use the binos, now I can get it with my eyes. Clouded over the other days. I want to try and see it as much as I can. I wish i had a better camera so i can get more of the tail. But it is a visually magnificent creature. Words can not begin to describe it.

clear skies to you.

Regards

timtam · #**502** 23-01-2007, 10:48 PM

Hello Netwolf

, thank you for that. We have no given up hope, LOL hoping for a nother peek tomorrow. We gave our 8 year old son a telescope for Xmas it is just a $60 job from Tandy a Celestron but it's not too bad. We got awesome veiws of the moons craters one night so recently hubby and I especially have become astronomy buffs

.

maddownunder · #**503** 23-01-2007, 10:49 PM

Have been waiting to see the comet for a week, finally got to see it tonight ! looks AMAZING ! the tail was so clear and long. Have been looking at pictures on spaceweather, but what I seen tonight was a 100 times better. Worth the wait. Hope we get another nice clear night tommorow too.

ronnierigel · #**504** 24-01-2007, 08:59 AM

Got out of Melbourne last night to Wallan.
2100hrs --clear!
2110hrs--cloud rolls in. Go back to in'laws
2200hrs---clearing!!
2210hrs--go back to viewing site---WOW!!!! this is the best comet that I have visually observed----better than Halleys/hyutake/hale-bopp. The tail stretched at least 15 degrees and striations (?technical term) were easily visible.
It is awesome----one that we can truly rave on about and not dissapoint the average layperson.

On a sour note--stuffed up my exposure settings in my haste to get some pics before further cloud rolled in, comet set and my ears froze off!!---all worth it however!

Now for some more clear days.

ron

Garyh · #**505** 24-01-2007, 09:06 AM

Hi everyone, Glad to hear some of you got some views last night...
Havn`t seen it since Saturday night, has been too cloudy since..
Just wondering how the brightness of the comet and its dust tail is holding up the last few days? has it faded much?
Itching to see it again and do some guided exposures...hopefully before the moon gets to bright and wash out the faint tail...
Cheers Gary

xstream (John) · #**506** 24-01-2007, 09:48 AM

Our local TV station Prime Albury (channel 7) put out a request last night for images of McNaught, I emailed a few to them this morning and they are going to be used on tonights news.

ving (David) · #**507** 24-01-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodstar

AFter having viewed the comet for about 30 minutes, my wife, who has zero interest in our great hobby, was heard to say something to the effect, " I am really glad I came". Now THAT is a miracle.

it quite a feeling isnt it Rod.

I got some sort of sense of achievement when cheryl came up to see the comet for the first time, she doesnt even like me talking astro stuff with her cause she gets bored of it...
and then she came up a second time

and of her own accord. I was at my comet watching spot (about 200m up the top of the hill from home) watching said comet with a couple of unknown guys when i heard a noise behind me. she had just decided to come up for a look. I was pretty chuffed

I think that in some cases, even non astro people realise the significance of the event.

erick (Eric) · #**508** 24-01-2007, 10:36 AM

My 20 yr old daughter has said - "Dad, you've mistaken me for someone who cares!"

BUT she did go out with her brothers to see it two nights ago and did sit and look at most of my slides last night.

Volans · #**509** 24-01-2007, 07:32 PM

G'day All,

I have been granted a reprieve from work for about a week starting at the end of the month. Assuming the comet is still at a reasonable brightness (and yes, I know the Moon will be annoying) can anyone suggest a place any where in Australia that I can:

1. Get to reasonably easily via planes, trains and automobiles
2. Have a fairly high chance of clear skies

Brisbane has been clouded out too often and I want to see more of this hairy star.

Peter.

barossa watcher · #**510** 24-01-2007, 11:52 PM

The comet looks great as I seen it tonight just by accident whilst driving in a s/w direction just out of the Barossa Valley about 2200hrs.
My partner asked what this thing in the sky was.... a helicopter or something with its night sun on or alike..
Then I realised it was this comet I had been hearing about for the past week or so on the radio.
It was easily veiwable with just the naked eye, as we had beautiful clear skies tonight, but a set of goggles or scope would have been nice to see it clearer and check out more detail..
This is something I wont forget in a hurry..

MikeyB (Michael) · #**511** 25-01-2007, 12:12 AM

Hey, Volans.

Give Perth a try, Peter. We've had a great run of clear viewing ever since McNaught first came above the horizon and at this time of year, can expect plenty more.

There's unobstructed westward views from our miles of glorious Indian Ocean beaches and no city lights in that direction until you hit Africa!

Michael

fringe_dweller · #**512** 25-01-2007, 12:20 AM

hey Barossa watcher, Welcome!
comet is still doing well isnt it!, I had an easy to see 25 -30 degree clear long silvery slender-ish curved tail widening to a ribbon width by after the first few degrees from coma, from the back yard, with a hint of the fainter larger spread/features - second nights viewing from my backyard!! that dust taill is extremely resilient! in fact first small 1 or 2 degrees of tail seemed just as bright as the head this evening! I have noticed a lot of other stars popping out of the twilight before p1 does since monday, it used to be first one out last week

even beat venus coupla times there,
amazing, hard to imagine getting blase' about a bright 30 degree tail naked eye comet/tail, wasnt long ago would of killed for a comet even 1/10th as good as it still looks now!!!

btw I read a stat that the visible tail got out to around 1 AU!!!!! in length on the 20th, and has been getting longer after that!

fringe_dweller · #**513** 25-01-2007, 12:59 AM

still cant get over that 'Klingon Bird-of-Prey decloaking' trick the comet and tail was doing in the bright twilight last week - freakin amazing!

fringe_dweller · #**514** 25-01-2007, 01:13 AM

...or how bright it was last saturday evening!

from the glimpes of the head/first part of tail and longer looks at the extremities of the larger bloated mid and end sections of tail we saw, and what i have seen since (and the pics of course), i think I know? how good that must looked naked eye with clear views from thursday thru sat, even sunday when it got dark i guess, you are very lucky people who saw that! and yes i'm extremely jealous

sat night, down at the sea, it was like being in a fog, like in king kong the movie, and suddenly you see skull island! or your in little dinghy/tinny in the fog/storm and a giant tanker ship or a whale (and the beast pins one fishy eye upon ye) as it comes gliding by closely, - i am using poetic license here of course

swannies1983 (Dan) · #**515** 25-01-2007, 05:56 AM

I'm so

!!! I'm supposed to have started my trip back to Adelaide from Prague as of now, but all flights out of Prague have been cancelled due to snow in Prague. We were told we wouldn't be able to leave Prague until the 28th of January (arriving in Adelaide on the 30th January). This is not the news I wanted to here as I have been waiting anxiously to get home so I can see this comet! We may (cross fingers) be able to depart for Australia tomorrow, arriving on the 27th January. I'm supposed to be going to a wedding that day but I might see if I can duck out to see the comet during the reception

EDIT: Looks like I can't get a flight back to Australia until the 28th (arriving Adelaide on the 30th). Shatters my chances of seeing the comet

evonski · #**516** 25-01-2007, 11:51 AM

Hi All!

Great discussion and images about this astronomical event, I 've been fortunate to have seen it for 5 nights since last Thursday, however cloud cover spoilt the last 2 evenings.I could see it here in Ballina (bright gleeming street lights at times I wished they'd dissappear)using 10X50 binos.
It was really spectacular as a naked eye object.
I really need better equipment ...
Any suggestions for astrophotography that doesn't cost an "arm & a leg"

Happy Sky watching

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #**517** 25-01-2007, 01:41 PM

Just about any digital camera capable of at least 15 seconds exposure should capture something! About 100 to 400 ASA at F4 or so will get you some sort of a record.

matt · #**518** 25-01-2007, 05:09 PM

Yep. That's what we've been using.

15 seconds at f3.5 with ISO 400

MortonH · #**519** 25-01-2007, 09:20 PM

Anyone else having withdrawal symptons? I haven't seen it since last Saturday!!! How much longer is it likely to be this spectacular?

Morton

danielsun · #**520** 25-01-2007, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ving

it quite a feeling isnt it Rod.

I got some sort of sense of achievement when cheryl came up to see the comet for the first time, she doesnt even like me talking astro stuff with her cause she gets bored of it...
and then she came up a second time

and of her own accord. I was at my comet watching spot (about 200m up the top of the hill from home) watching said comet with a couple of unknown guys when i heard a noise behind me. she had just decided to come up for a look. I was pretty chuffed

I think that in some cases, even non astro people realise the significance of the event.

Yes, I even got a wow out of my totaly non astronomical wife last night after dragging her out for a look.