I set up a small after work 4 1/4 inch GOTO reflector at 1AM for a few minutes and took a quick look at Lulin between jet stream driven cloud lines from an urban light polluted location. Lulin is now at opposition and is at its brightest. It now has a distinct central core. Some of the "wings" of its tail could be only faintly seen. While a spectacular astrophotography object, as illustrated in yesterday's APOD: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090225.html - it's visual appearance is better represented by yesterday's ASOD (Astronomy Sketch of the Day). http://www.asod.info/?p=1610 Saturn is near opposition and wonderfully distinct at 1AM at a high altitude and with good seeing. Ceres is at opposition. It was a nice bright mag 5-6 and one had the definite impression that you where looking at an extend and not a point object. Ceres is almost at the zenith - not a convenient binocular observing frame - within one degree of a triangular asterism anchored by 54 Leo. 54 Leo anchors the "bottom" or south of a small, prominent triangular asterism consisting of: 54 Leo South anchor 4.5v 50 Leo Northeast corner 6.4v 48 Leo Northwest corner 6.2v If you can find the triangle asterism, Ceres is the brightest thing just to the east at (J2000 11h00m04.21s +24°35'11.5"). At 10pm tonight, Lulin will be about 1 1/2 degs north of 44 Leo (SAO118286) at 23 degs alt and on a line between rho Leo and Regulus. At 1AM it is within a 1 deg TFOV of 7.7 mag star SAO99061 (J2000 10h18m52.68s DE:+10°19'39.9"). It will be interesting to see what other changes Lulin might develop, now that it has been heated up by traveling through its point of closest passage to the Sun. Clear skies - Kurt P.S. to Chuck - Chuck wrote:
Another sarcastic comment. . . . . By all means, comets such as this are worth observing - especially to those of you who live and breathe astronomy, and apparently have little else to occupy your free time . . . But I don't feel like I have an obligation to drool and fawn publicly over every fuzzy thing that pops into the night sky.
Thanks, Chuck, that's nicest compliment I've received all week and a badge I am proud to wear. -:) But seriously, sometimes you deserve the ribbing you get. Sometimes you guys sound like a bunch of fossilized old-foogies whose astronomical life stopped with Comet West. It's not the skies that you have but what you do with the skies that you do have. This is an astronomy listserv - a place where people with some astronomy experience come to drool and fawn over every fuzzy thing that pops into the night sky. My apologies if I my sarcasism struck too deep or sent you over your limit. Peace, Best wishes, Kurt