OK, tomorrow morning I'm going to make my first attempt at observing Comet McNaught pre sunrise. Can anyone advise? What has been your experience?
I've just been out and swept clean the piece on concrete at the golf course I want to use. (I'll be sprung by the police again, I expect!). Sky looks good. Forecast looks good.
"Some people are asking questions about when to see the comet.
In the Morning
At the moment it is below the horizon for us when the Sun rises. On 18/1 it will rise at the same time as the Sun and after that it will rise in the SE before the Sun. It should be visible about a week after that."
Yes, I was confused at first when I saw Glenc's morning plot. But I know it is heading to become circumpolar, so I can visualise what is happening. I wonder what date the nucleus doesn't set again (from Melbourne)
Those of you with the right software can run it forward and tell us?
Wow that suprised me!! My apologies Eric.
I automatically assumed that its following the sun and even considered the fact that its closer to the sth pole, but still thought it would be still too far to rise earlier, but there you have it!
Yes, I was confused at first when I saw Glenc's morning plot. But I know it is heading to become circumpolar, so I can visualise what is happening. I wonder what date the nucleus doesn't set again (from Melbourne)
Those of you with the right software can run it forward and tell us?
sorry from tassie, but around january 29 it is 1 degree above the horizon due south!
The comet is south of the Sun in the sky, that's how it can set after and rise before the Sun.
However, Dave Herald said today on comets-ml:
"I had a look two mornings ago. The horizon was about 2 deg. I couldn't find it with binoculars. The magnitude of the nucleus is fading quite significantly (IMHO), such that in the evening sky it is not very noticeable until about 15 to 20 mins after sunset (whereas a week ago you could find it at sunset). I think the combination of atmospheric extinction at low altitudes, increasing twilight as the altitude climbs, and the tail pointing down to the horizon (more or less) - means that this comet will never be a naked eye object in the morning sky."
Here is the Cartes du Ciel map of McNaught in 4 weeks time from Melbourne.
This shows the comet at 11:30 p.m. on the 25th Feb 2007. Quite high in the South. I wound it back 2 hours to 9:30 p.m.and it was level with halfway between the horizon and the SCP.
.....this comet will never be a naked eye object in the morning sky.
I beg to differ. Saw it this morning from Melbourne
OK, I'll admit it was barely visible naked eye (plus my specs!)
I set up this morning around 4:15am. Checked the compass - blast! - It may well rise behid those few streetlights. But this is the chunk of concrete I needed to set up on.
Busy myself looking at Jupiter and moons, continue the struggle trying to convince myself I could see Saturn's rings in the 20x80s (30x100s out of action at present), give my neck a workout by looking at Omega Centauri high in the sky, and work my way through Scorpius.
Police show up. No problem, but he says "If you are looking for the comet, you are looking at the wrong time and in the wrong direction!" Well, I'll have a look anyway, officer.
Around 5:15 with sky lightening, but some cloud drifting across, I move NE about 100m and scan the sky with the 12x60s. No problemo! There it is, right where I expected it. It must have risen around 5am Melbourne time at about 140deg. I can see a few degrees of tail. If I'd caught it earlier, I'm sure I would have seen more in the darker sky.
After setting the 20x80s up in this better viewing place, and verifying its position with binoculars, I then put on with the specs and peer intently. Yep! got it! However, had cloud to contend with - bands drifting over the Comet. Within another 10 min, it was gone from naked eye, but I had the nucleus in the binoculars until about 5:40 before the cloud covered it entirely.
I'm happy! Pack up and make the five minute drive home.
Interesting! How bright was it? Could you see the tail?
I might try for some morning shots.. I have a much better East horizon than West!
Mike, I don't know all this stuff - estimating magnitudes. Let's say by the time I saw it this morning, it was definitely fainter than the last time I saw it which was Wednesday evening. I couldn't really see any tail with naked eye, but it was clear in my 12x60 binoculars.
You'll need a clear low horizon around 140 deg (the Pacific Ocean might be ideal ) and I reckon you'll see the tail rise first, then the nucleus - I think some photos right after the nucleus rises would work out well with the good gear you guys have.
Further north than Melbourne - don't know - if I have my facts right, it won't be as high in the sky as the Sun rises? Also is it still 140 deg bearing elsewhere?
Haven't I seen some morning photos from NZ? I just checked on Spaceweather. Page 17, Peter Oliver from Dunedin - a 2am photo and he says it is now above their horizon all night. Oh, and Minoru Yoneto's photo on page 16.
Good one Erick, I saw it naked eye and photographed it as well yesterday morning. I'm only at 31S latitude, so it is more difficult than regions further south, but it wasn't too hard to see, including about 2 degrees of tail. http://members.ozemail.com.au/~loomberah/mcnaught.htm
But this is the chunk of concrete I needed to set up on. 
Well, I'll have a look anyway, officer.
) and I reckon you'll see the tail rise first, then the nucleus - I think some photos right after the nucleus rises would work out well with the good gear you guys have. 
