March 2002 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

I'm baaaack!
by Chuck Hards 02 Apr '02

02 Apr '02

Hello to all my Utah-astronomy friends, I'm back on the list! Despite better judgement, considering my AOL v3.0 browser (utterly contemptable crap; but hey, it's free for a while longer) viewing comet Ikeya-Zhang these past two nights has made me "homesick" for your company! Anybody else looking at this cute little comet? Chuck __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover http://greetings.yahoo.com/

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Great star party
by Patrick Wiggins 01 Apr '02

01 Apr '02

Great views of the comet tonight from SPOC. But even better views of Saturn and M-42 through the Brandt and Jupiter through the Ealing. Chances are good that we'll open both scopes up Sunday night too. Patrick :-)

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Comet Viewing Again
by David Dunn 29 Mar '02

29 Mar '02

Last night the comet was 4 or 5 deg to the lower left of Mirach (Beta Andromeda). It looked to be about the same brightness as Epsilon Cassiopeia (listed as 3.4 in The Sky). I think it was slightly dimmer. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Troy Adair [mailto:troyadair@utah-inter.net] Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 10:38 PM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet Viewing Again The March 2002 map at www.skymaps.com also includes where to find the comet. Troy _______________________________________________ Utah-astronomy mailing list Utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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Comet Viewing Again
by Joe Borgione 28 Mar '02

28 Mar '02

Nice look at the comet tonight. Was anyone able to catch a glimpse of it and M33 in the same eypiece? From my east bench location, I struggled to tease a glimpse of M31 to the north; from studying my Sky Atlas 2000, I calculate the comet's RA 1 hr 17 min dec 31.75 degrees; my 8 x 56 binoculars have a 5.8 degree field of view, and I'm not sure of my 15 x 70s, probably 3 or 3.5. If it's clear tomorrow, it will be worth a drive west to put the two together in darker skies..... Joe Borgione

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Comet Viewing Again
by David Dunn 28 Mar '02

28 Mar '02

Last night finding the comet was easy. It was right at the end of the top branch of the tree across the street. What I have been doing to find the comet is using binoculars and scanning the area between Aries and Andomeda. I have been starting at 7:45 and I don't think you could see it much past 8:15. In my case it would go below the houses. Last night we had to estimate where andromeda would be using Cassiopia. After you find it one night it is pretty easy to find it the next night because it doesn't move far. After I find it using binoculars I can usually pick up at least to core with the naked eye. Last night, with the naked eye, it looked like a real dim star instead of a fuzzy one. This is a fun time to observe. I have been getting out for an hour or so a couple of times a week. I really enjoy viewing the planets and galaxies. The other neat thing to see is Orion. There are a lot of nebulas in Orion. -----Original Message----- From: Joe Borgione [mailto:jborgion@xmission.com] Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 10:01 AM To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet Viewing Again I'm setting up right at sundown, about 7:15 or 7:30. By 8:00 it's plenty dark, but elevevation above the horizon (thick atmosphere)enters into the equation. Patricks description using Mars as guidepost is a good one; my description from last night or the day before has you coming in from the other other direction. While the moon is full, it will be rising with the sunset; I found moonlight to be more of problem last week when it was higher earlier in the first quarter. This springtime evening sky is fabulous; four planets are up at the same time, a comet, the pliedes, and a couple of near-neighbor galaxies. Temperatures are mild and you can be home before the 10:00 news. Joe Borgione ------------------- > I drove to the west last night and did not manage to see it. Can you give > me pointers on what time? The moon was so bright I think it washed out > whatever I was looking at, or else I looked too late. Thanks, Joe > > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-astronomy mailing list > Utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > _______________________________________________ Utah-astronomy mailing list Utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet update
by Steve Trottier 28 Mar '02

28 Mar '02

It was shortly after dark, around 8:10 maybe?

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Comet update
by Steve Trottier 28 Mar '02

28 Mar '02

I found it from my backyard in Orem last night. I needed my binoculars, couldn't see anything naked eye from there. Quite a sight! One of only a couple comets I've seen since I started this hobby. In a few weeks, it will become even more difficult to see anything from my backyard, since the Orem streetlights are going up. :(

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Comet update
by Patrick Wiggins 27 Mar '02

27 Mar '02

Just back from SPOC. By the time we (Patricia and I) got over there the comet was too low to be seen with the Ealing so we just stood out front with 7x35s. Easily visible in the binocs but the almost full Moon and heavy haze kept it from being seen naked eye. Patrick

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] More on the comet
by forrell＠es.com 26 Mar '02

26 Mar '02

I observed the comet last night through less than ideal skies from Sandy's light polluted skies. The tail was easily visible in 8x56 binoculars and extended roughly 5 degrees. Once I spotted it in binoculars, the head was visible to the naked eye. I also observed it with a 90mm spotting scope at 20X. While I was watching it, I thought I noticed subtle short duration changes in the tail structure, but I couldn't be sure. Anyone else see this? -----Original Message----- From: Patrick Wiggins [mailto:paw@trilobyte.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 9:59 PM To: utah astronomy listserve Subject: [Utah-astronomy] More on the comet Hi, Just back from SPOC 2 where Bruce Grim and I chose comet Ikeya-Zhang as the subject of the Ealing's first light. As you might expect, the comet through a 400 mm scope was very impressive. Anyone else out there seen the comet lately? Patrick :-) p.s. I understand that the D News may have a photographer and reporter at tomorrow (Thursday, 21 March) night's impromptu comet/occultation/planet watch at the Midvale Harmons. Y'all come! _______________________________________________ Utah-astronomy mailing list Utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy

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Should have seen it coming
by Patrick Wiggins 23 Mar '02

23 Mar '02

The psychic who did not see it coming... :-) http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/1858187p-1950212c.html Still, as an astrologer she probably made more than any of us astronomers. Patrick

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