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@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
I headed west last night to second Grantsville exit/Stansbury Island; I got skunked by the clouds and couldn't pick it out. Rats- perhaps I should have tried Sandy instead. I was able to pick out M81 & M82 with both my 8 X 56s and 11 X 70s, so all was not lost..... How high is the comet off the horizon? Is it towards Cassiopia or more towards the Plieades? I was observing between 8:15 and 9:15. Joe Borgione forrell@es.com wrote:
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!
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Anyone know if it's still right of a line between Mars and Venus? Pls answer right away. I think it is, but if not, I'll have to change a little story in today's paper. Thanks, jb
Joe, check out the finder chart at: http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_477_1.asp It only shows the position through the 20th but you can extrapolate. dlb On Friday, March 22, 2002, at 11:05 AM, Joe Bauman wrote:
Anyone know if it's still right of a line between Mars and Venus? Pls answer right away. I think it is, but if not, I'll have to change a little story in today's paper. Thanks, jb
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Joe, the second chart on the same page goes through the 26th... On Friday, March 22, 2002, at 11:22 AM, David L Bennett wrote:
Joe, check out the finder chart at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_477_1.asp
It only shows the position through the 20th but you can extrapolate.
dlb
I did check it but I wanted to say where it was in relation to Mars and Venus, so people not as versed in astronomy can find it. I didn't see Mars and Venus on the chart. What Patrick told me a couple of days ago was that if you drew a line between Mars and Venus, the comet would be a bit to the right. I looked at finder charts and it doesn't seem that the comet has moved much in a few days, and one chart I saw shows Mars in the same general area, but I can't find if Venus has moved around a lot. Sorry for the trouble. jb
Just got back in from viewing the comet. Had a pretty good look at it for about an hour starting about 7:15 or so till about 8:30. It has such a blue hue ; really pretty, with a great shape to the tail. I did my observing from my east side Salt Lake county neighborhood with binoculars; in my front yard and while walking the dog. (I can hear the police description now; peeping tom with binoculars... Good thing my wife was with me.) At times I could just pick out the head naked eye. What a difference a little clear weather can make! Joe Borgione
Joe Borgione wrote:
Just got back in from viewing the comet. Had a pretty good look at it for about an hour starting about 7:15 or so till about 8:30. It has such a blue hue ; really pretty, with a great shape to the tail. I did my observing from my east side Salt Lake county neighborhood with binoculars;
Pretty wasn't it. I had a little refractor on it and had some trouble making out the tail. Guess I should have started this hobby when I had younger eyes. And yes clear skies are much better than what we've been having lately. Seems like we always get good skies for a brighter moon and snow for the new moon.
(I can hear the police description now; peeping tom with binoculars... Good > thing my wife was with me.)
Seems like every time I get a scope out the neighbors decide to get in the hot tub. Bill Biesele
I walked outside during my 8:00 break at work and I was able to see the comet in some 7x35 bino's fairly easily, the tail is longer than I had expected and the head seemed fairly small, all this despite it being about 1 degree above a parking lot light. This was my first view of it, I had tried on Sunday to see it but it was either too low by the time I went out or it was blocked by my neighbors house, or clouds. I hope to be able to take my 15x70 bino's on my tripod for others to view sometime this week. If it passes close to M-31 like Patrick says, I might just have to take some time off to get some shots from a darker site than downtown SLC.;-) Howard
Joe Borgione wrote:
Just got back in from viewing the comet. Had a pretty good look at it for about an hour starting about 7:15 or so till about 8:30. It has such a blue hue ; really pretty, with a great shape to the tail. I did my observing from my east side Salt Lake county neighborhood with binoculars;
Pretty wasn't it. I had a little refractor on it and had some trouble making out the tail. Guess I should have started this hobby when I had younger eyes.
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About what kind of elevation above the horizon? I am on the west side (West Jordan) - and haven't seen it yet - could be the elevation abouve the mountains. Thanks, Jim Stitley --- Joe Borgione <jborgion@xmission.com> wrote:
Just got back in from viewing the comet. Had a pretty good look at it for about an hour starting about 7:15 or so till about 8:30. It has such a blue hue ; really pretty, with a great shape to the tail. I did my observing from my east side Salt Lake county neighborhood with binoculars; in my front yard and while walking the dog. (I can hear the police description now; peeping tom with binoculars... Good thing my wife was with me.) At times I could just pick out the head naked eye.
What a difference a little clear weather can make!
Joe Borgione
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I don't want to venture a guess in terms of degrees above the horizon, but I used Cassiopia as a guide; The western portion of the 'W' of Cassiopia points towards the vicinity of the Andromeda Galaxy, as well as the Triangulum Galaxy. Last night, I followed this 'pointer' to what I think is Beta Andramedae, and then contiued to the south and slighty west some more. The key is to find the first fairly bright star south and west of (left and below) the W in Cassiopia; I didn't have my star chart with me last night, but looking at one on my computer now, I gotta think its Beta Andramedae, which is amgnitude 2. I think the comet is at magnitude 4 or so. Sweep around till you find it; it's well worth the effort Joe Borgione ------------------
About what kind of elevation above the horizon? I am on the west side (West Jordan) - and haven't seen it yet - could be the elevation abouve the mountains. Thanks, Jim Stitley
forrell@es.com wrote:
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?
Have a look at this: http://www.waa.at/bericht/2002/03/20020311karrer.html I just wish I could say I was the one who took it. Patrick
participants (8)
-
David L Bennett -
forrell＠es.com -
Howard Jackman -
Jim Stitley -
Joe Bauman -
Joe Borgione -
Patrick Wiggins -
will biesele