McNaught - Naked Eye or Not?

circumpolar (Matt) · #1 17-01-2007, 10:03 PM

OK,

Q: Can you really see Comet McNaught with your naked eye or is that just what you tell your mates?

Zander · #2 17-01-2007, 10:08 PM

yes u most certainly can!

it was quite bright tonight against the darker background.
both the head and tail are visible with the naked eye

erick (Eric) · #3 17-01-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by circumpolar

OK,

Q: Can you really see Comet McNaught with your naked eye or is that just what you tell your mates?

A: No, well not my wife and I, anyway since we had to be wearing our specs (

) to see it last Sunday very distinctly in the sky even before the sun set below the horizon - but after the sun had "set" behind a thick belt of cloud.

Evidence coming, I hope - I pick up the slides tomorrow - will only post if I didn't completely stuff up the exposure

acropolite (Phil) · #4 17-01-2007, 10:11 PM

Sticks out like the proverbial dogs .... even naked eye. At around 9:30 (sunset was at 8:45) tonight I spotted it again through cloud, an unforgettable sight, made the mistake of running back to get the camera, but didn't get back in time before it was starting to go into the trees. The tail was three times longer than two nights ago, probably because of the darker sky. I am a little annoyed at myself for not being better prepared.

leon · #5 17-01-2007, 10:31 PM

absolutely, and not only that you can photograph it as well, check it out in Observational Astronomy, taken 30minutes ago.

Cheers leon

Grinz · #6 17-01-2007, 10:32 PM

I did - on Sunday.

That's how you catch this Comet Fever that is going around in a big way. In fact, I am contemplating the idea of designing a T-shirt that says "I am NAUGHT lying, I SAW the Comet (with McNothing than my naked eyes)".

Also contemplating taking off a month so I can get SOME sleep between comet vigils, catching some cricket on TV, making a living and (mostly)talking about comet vigils.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #7 17-01-2007, 10:59 PM

I Saw Comet McNaught.

RB (Andrew) · #8 17-01-2007, 11:13 PM

Naked eye, easily ......
......and that's the truth.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 18-01-2007, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grinz

In fact, I am contemplating the idea of designing a T-shirt that says "I am NAUGHT lying, I SAW the Comet (with McNothing than my naked eyes)".

This would be even funnier:
"I saw Comet McNaught with McNothing other than my McNaked eyes!"

asimov (John) · #10 18-01-2007, 07:31 AM

Took a bit of locating but yep, once found sticks out like a dogs hind leg!

ving (David) · #11 18-01-2007, 09:21 AM

yup, sticks out like a sore thumb

Grinz · #12 18-01-2007, 10:17 AM

Ken, I like your version much better too

.

ving (David) · #13 18-01-2007, 10:22 AM

ho about "I came to see the comet but all i saw was (mc)Naught" or "My parents went to see the comet and all i got was this lousy t-shirt"

Grinz · #14 18-01-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ving

ho about "I came to see the comet but all i saw was (mc)Naught" or "My parents went to see the comet and all i got was this lousy t-shirt"

*chuckle*

Another possibility: "I wanted a telescope to look at the comet but my wife (husband) bought me McNaughting but this T-shirt"

And one for us ladies: "I'm a McNaughty girl, I promise I am!"

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #15 18-01-2007, 10:46 AM

Tuesday evening, after sundown from the top of Mt Wellington (with the comet still above the smoke haze). Easy peazy.

erick (Eric) · #16 18-01-2007, 10:47 AM

"Come out the backyard in the dark. We can be McNaughty together."

gbeal · #17 18-01-2007, 11:02 AM

Yep, not only after the sun sets either.
On Sunday it was very plainly visible, with the un-aided eye, at about 1;00pm in the arvo. It was a matter of placing an obstruction in line with the sun (a roof line or similar) and looking. I pointed it out to a friend, with the idea of showing it to him with binoculars first, and he said he could see it even before I gave him the binos. It DOES depend on the sky transperancy though, as I couldn't do this on Monday, only with binoculars.
I posted a poor daylight image of it in the Solar System column.

Starkler (Geoff) · #18 18-01-2007, 11:06 AM

Has anyone in Melbourne seen it yet?

It been cloudy or smokey to the western horizon every evening since Saturday here

ving (David) · #19 18-01-2007, 11:08 AM

i saw it on monday at 3:30pm. boy was it hard to spot tho. I havent had any daytime luck since... might have a shot today if its not cloudy

mojo (Terry) · #20 18-01-2007, 11:45 AM

I'm beginning to think it's a huge conspiracy. Has anyone actually seen it in Melbourne? I'm lookin' but I just don't see it through the smoke and clouds