Comet McNaught (2006/P1) - discussions - Page 31

jodee · #**601** 12-02-2007, 02:20 PM

YOU HAVE PUT THE HUGEST SMILE ON MY FACE!!!Thankyou so much for taking the time to write me,i see it all the time right in my backyard and had to ask.I feel much better now thanks again,now i will enjoy it like you all do!!!THANX A MILLION!!!

Al (Alice) · #**602** 15-02-2007, 12:55 PM

Hello

We tried unsuccessfully to view the comet last night, we were out beyond Pakenham about 10.30 pm. We had a planisphere and the great finder chart put on the viewing guides thread by avandonk on 11-02-2007 at 09:04 AM:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=16334..

We found the area of the sky where the comet was supposed to be, to have few bright objects in it, so it was difficult to star hop using binoculars/naked eye. Looking at the finder chart, and objects surrounding the expected location of the comet:

1. The Southern Cross and the Pointers were obvious. The coal sac was obvious too, so the skies were reasonably dark.
2. The Large and Small Magellanic clouds were obvious, as was 47 Tucana.
3. We seem to have found Octans and Triangulum Australe OK.
4. Then the clouds rolled in from the West.

When trying to work out why we did not find the comet, I have the following queries:
1. Maybe the comet had set?
2. What diameter would the comet be now, compared with the size of nearby objects 47 Tucane.
3. What length would its tail be, and compared with what? eg diameter of Large Magellanic Cloud.
4. Are my 7 x 50 binoculars too small? (Kassel binoculars, 30 years old)

Thanks for any help you can give here! If possible, we would still like to see the comet, as we have not been able to do so thus far.

Al.

erick (Eric) · #**603** 15-02-2007, 02:01 PM

Al, I also tried last night under darkish skies in NSW, but didn't see it through 20x80s. But I couldn't start looking until 11pm. I'll try earlier tonight, if I can. It's there somewhere.

acropolite (Phil) · #**604** 15-02-2007, 10:30 PM

I don't know what you guys are doing wrong but HRH & I could still see it naked eye tonight from around 10 onwards, HRH & I plodded 300m up the road (as we have for the past weeks) and over a fence then a further 100m (braving mosquitos). HRH Liz was the first to spot it yet again

Quote:

"is that a cloud over there or is that it??"

Once located it was still clearly visible with the naked eye. Like the 3 wise men (2 wise old farts anyway) we followed the star all the way home and lo and behold discovered that it was clearly visible from our own backyard and even from our main deck off the living area. Funny how the changes in road direction alter perception and we've been trekking for no real gain all these weeks.!!! Might get the LX out and try some piggyback shots at the weekend.

Al (Alice) · #**605** 15-02-2007, 11:21 PM

Hi,

I wonder if our latitude is affecting our ability to see the comet, eg rise and set times might be different.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks
Al.

erick (Eric) · #**606** 16-02-2007, 08:34 AM

Got it last night - down between the trees and in the glow of Mittagong lights!

Around 10:30-10:45pm - come vertically down from 47 Tuc - move a little south along the horizon and back up maybe 5-7 degrees in altitude. (My horizon is sloping and elevated in that direction so could be more degrees for a flat horizon.) Couldn't see it naked eye, but could see coma and part of the tail in my 20x80s, the only binoculars I have with me.

Al, if I have my facts straight, it no longer sets for the southern states - circumpolar now (or very soon?)

Al (Alice) · #**607** 17-02-2007, 12:17 AM

Thanks Erick and Phil -

Will keep trying to find it! Well done on your successful comet rendez-vous!

Al

glenc (Glen) · #**608** 19-02-2007, 05:30 AM

Just looked at the comet at 5am DST. It is still a naked eye object and the tail is 4.5 degrees long using 20x80 binoculars. The tail is visible above nu Tuc but not at delta Tuc.

Al (Alice) · #**609** 19-02-2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenc

Just looked at the comet at 5am DST. It is still a naked eye object and the tail is 4.5 degrees long using 20x80 binoculars. The tail is visible above nu Tuc but not at delta Tuc.

Well done Glenc! How big is 4.5 degrees for the tail? eg diameter of the moon, I don't understand degrees in relation to astronomical objects.
Thanks
Al

glenc (Glen) · #**610** 20-02-2007, 05:38 AM

Al, the moon is 0.5 degree across, so the comet's tail was 9 times the moon's diameter yesterday. Glen

Kazza · #**611** 20-02-2007, 11:36 AM

I am in Central Qld and had 3 weeks of cloud at the best viewing time in Mackay, then have been out of action for 2 weeks as was having our first child, but was wondeing if it may still be visible up here. I think based on what I have read that for me, the only time would be early eveninng with a good s-sw horizon- does this sound right?

erick (Eric) · #**612** 20-02-2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazza

.... then have been out of action for 2 weeks as was having our first child.........

Excuses Excuses!!!!

Congratulations Kazza - I bet that's an exciting time for you as it was for me (many years ago!)

I'm sure some of the experts can print charts to help you, but think about having a look in the early morning. You'll be up feeding or rocking a baby, I expect! If, around 5am, you can see the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, then just continue almost horizontally further south from the SMC and you'll come to the comet with tail pointing back towards the SMC. Check the recent morning photos in the images thread. Good luck!

Blue Skies (Jacquie) · #**613** 20-02-2007, 10:35 PM

I should have written earlier but I saw the comet on Sat night. It was wuite low and just in the local light pollution so no visible with the naked eye but was nicest in binos where I could see a 3 degree tail. Any other time a comet looking that that would have been a treat....

glenc (Glen) · #**614** 21-02-2007, 04:48 AM

At 5am DST (4am Qld) the comet is 18.3 degrees to the left of 47 Tuc. It is up to the left of alpha Tuc (2 degrees away). At 10pm DST it is 18.3 degrees below 47 Tuc. The morning is the best time to see it as it is higher in the sky. A hand span is about 20 degrees if you hold your arm out straight.

CoombellKid · #**615** 21-02-2007, 06:26 AM

Dang! clouds stopped me from having a gander this morning.

regards,CS

Al (Alice) · #**616** 21-02-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenc

Al, the moon is 0.5 degree across, so the comet's tail was 9 times the moon's diameter yesterday. Glen

Thank you Glen! I'll try again, when skies are clear ... fingers crossed!
Al

glenc (Glen) · #**617** 27-02-2007, 05:36 AM

I saw the comet at 5:15 am this morning. (UT+11). It is only just visible to the naked eye now, and requires averted vision. The tail is about 3.5 degrees long with 7x50 and 20x80 binoculars. It can be traced to below the star delta Tuc. The coma and about 1 degree of tail are nice and bright in 20x80s. The comet is 1.7 degrees up to the right of alpha Tuc.

glenc (Glen) · #**618** 02-03-2007, 05:20 AM

Looked at McNaught this morning just after the moon set. The tail was very faint in 7x50s but the tail still looks nice in 20x80s. There was a mag 6.6 star on the left of the coma only 7' away.

glenc (Glen) · #**619** 16-03-2007, 06:48 AM

Last night at 10:30 pm (UT+11) McNaught was about magnitude 8. I looked at it with my 12 inch dob and compared it to a nearby out of focus star HD 216150. It was only 7 degrees above the horizon. At 3:30 am this morning it was only just visible with 7x50s and the wide tail was about 1 degree long with 20x80 triplet binoculars. With 20x80s it was similar in magnitude and size to NGC 346 in the SMC.

CoombellKid · #**620** 16-03-2007, 07:20 AM

I was out until about 9:30pm and took in a lovely view of the Comet. Plus a few other things including Saturn. I nice evening up here on the north coast.

regards,CS