Supplemental observing report on 20041219 8:30am: I wasn't satisfied with my diameter measurement taken on 20041217, so I went back to the same site and retook a measurement at 20041219 8:30AM and after manually rechecking the apparent fields of my lenses. At 20041219 8:30am, the comet had an estimated diameter of 16.8 arcminutes at 27.5 magnification. Repeated measurements were not taken, so I'd assign an arbitrary confidence interval of +- 2.2 arcminutes (13%). This size was estimated visually as 1/7 the TFOV of a 40mm lens with a 54 deg AFOV used in an scope with an 1100mm fl, or 27.5x. This measurement comported with an asterism in a nearby stellar field. Machholz was within 1 1/2 degs of "Y" shaped asterism involving HD27113 (v8.4) and HD27217 (v8.4). The 16.8 arcminute measurement appeared portional to the 22.3 arcminute distance between HD27113 (v8.4) and HD27217 (v8.4). A 12mm graduated reticule was used to remeasure the size of the bright core of the comet at 91.6 power. The bright core seen at the magnification was measured at approx. 1.75 arcminutes. Repeated measurements were not taken, so I'd assign an arbitrary confidence interval of 0.6 arcminutes or (30%). This corresponds to one-tick mark on the linear scale of the reticule. Some updated finder charts were prepared to mag 10 for the comet's path of Taurus and the Pleaides for January 2 through January 10. All the finder charts can be found at: http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/ Finder charts: Overview 70 deg finder to 1/10/2005 with Moon phase and transit notes http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q270degTo1... (Prime viewing time starts after sunset on January 2, 2005 through January 13, 2005) 25 deg finder with Tau orientation (north of Pleaides) to 1/10/2005 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Tau1_10_... 25 deg finder with Tau orientation (near Pleaides) to 1/08/2005 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Tau1_8_0... 25 deg finder with Tau orientation (west of Haydes) to 1/5/2005 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Tau1_2_0... 25 deg finder with Eri orientation - good through 12/27/2004 Stars to mag 10 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Eriv10to... 25 deg finder with Lep orientation - good through 12/23/2004 Stars to mag 10 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Lepv10to... Moon blocking and Comet C/2004Q2 (Machholz) to 2/3/2005 http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/finder/CometC2004Q2Moonto2_... - Canopus56 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail