Observed it at around 6:30pm (UT+10) on 22, 23 and 24 May. Faint naked eye visibility on 22nd, easy naked eye (direct vision) on 23rd under brilliant skies, and difficult naked eye on 24th. Observed from Deptford, Gippsland, Vic under dark skies (remote location, no nearby settlement), but just shows that even in these locations transparency can vary considerably. Great views in binoculars (12x50) on all nights.
Pic attached, showing movement of comet over the three nights. Composite put together from stacks of 16x10sec subs taken with Canon 400D on tripod, shooting at 55mm.
Just come inside after a nice half hour observing Boattini through the 30X100's.
Both the nucleus and coma readilly seen and bright but no sign of a tail yet, maybe the Perth skyglow to the SW is affecting this. Amazing how far its moved over the past month.
This comet watching is addictive, a few years back I woudnt have thought twice about observing, now if there is one out there I must go and get the binos!
I looked at Boattini last night with 12x60s and my 12". I couldn't see it naked eye but it was easy to see in my 50mm finder. I didn't see any tail with the 12".
lucky i attempted my first dark sky site NE viewing of this comet (i am still in self imposed minimal observing effort mode for a urban dweller for a year or two) last night at the end of a day/evening trip down Fleurieu Peninsula, as the clouds have come rolling in just now, and the moons back by end of week, was certainly a little marginal NE not a glaringly obvious little ne comet, altho it had it moments, but an easy averted vision object for sure, - more condensed 8P in early jan was easier ne object at mag 6, than this one which i roughly found to be around mag 5.4 - 5.5 and close to half a degree in dia. ne when at best, W1 moved nearly 2 deg since my view on sat night. 16th? ne comet for me i think and yes its not an urban ne comet, but as they say, you cant be half pregnant?
further down the road, tried for first time, the made famous locally on net by P1 in jan 2007, DSS at Myponga reservoir, at top of Myponga hill at 400mtrs or so, wow amazing how good that is so close to southern burbs aldinga ect., elevation, even a little, rules! and a hill blocking the LP too
Nice to see a few people are viewing this one. It's heading down into the skyglow from town at my place now, but still great in binoculars.
Here's some images from tonight. Taken with piggy-backed Canon 400D, hand-guided with slow-motion controls on EQ1 mount. First is a Registax stack aligned on the comet head, second is a DSS stack.
The comet is moving fast now - here's a link to a short animation I put together of its movement over 40 minutes tonight:
I have been making a little calendar for W1, closest approach to Earth is on 13th June @ 0.21 AU, and comes to Perihelion on the 23rd of June @ 0.85 AU. The good news is, we should see this comet in the early morning throughout its perihelion passage!!! The bad news is, the moonlight will stuff it up!!!! I made it out last night visually @ mag 4.6. So it's still brightening! (no tail observed)
Thanks for the thread - I found the comet last night about 20 degrees above western horizon in Christchurch - I'm impressed that there are naked-eye observers - it looks faint to me even through 200mm (maybe I'm looking at the wrong object...)
Finally got a look at this baby tonight with the 10*50's. Can't pick it up naked eye with the skyglow from Rocky on my western horizon but really easy to pick up in the binoculars. No tail visible but maybe the hint of bright core + coma.
nice to see
Last edited by Marko of Oz; 06-06-2008 at 06:46 PM.
Reason: typo
Hi Guys!
Heres an image from tonight!
Canon 400D and Sigma lens, 300mm @ f/5.6, 180 sec exp, ISO 1600, piggybacked on my 8" Celestron Ultima PEC!
I noticed a small tail @ the 10 o'clock position! YAY!
Cheers!
Hi all, my last observation the comet was at mag 4.8. So it's well within reach of binoculars and even naked eye, although the moon will affect naked eye viewing from here on in, it reaches closest approach to EARTH around 13th June. Then it will rise in the dawn sky at sunrise around 14th/15th and rise approx 15 to 20 mins earlier each day........
We will see this comet early in the morning throughout its perihelion passage on the 23rd June, this will also be moon affected....
Observation from last night under moonlight m1= 4.6; Dia= 12'; DC= 5; 7x50 binoculars, the diameter estimate was hard to measure due to moonlight interference, but otherwise it's still bright! Couldn't see it naked eye due to moonlight and proximity to Western horizon (atmospheric extinction)
and yes its not an urban ne comet, but as they say, you cant be half pregnant?
