next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
Here is a reposting effort regarding a very nice twilight comet that has been putting on an interesting sow for sky watchers. I had attempted to post this message on our NatureNS site yesterday but it has not appeared for some reason (at least not on my computer). The following message was sent Jan 9, in hopes that some might observe the comet last evening, etc. I managed to have a great view of Comet McNaught again last evening between 5:15 and 5:42 and managed to capature a few photos as well (one posted at my website). Hopefully the sky will co-operate at least one more time in the next few days. One never knows how a comet will behave. Original posting submitted Jan 9th: Hi Everyone, If you have access to a good low western horizon, fairly clear of cloud, tall trees and buildings, you may be interested in this. There is a wonderfully bright comet in the evening sky for the next few days, visible in the bright twilight right after sunset. Several of us who follow such things had a great view of it Sunday evening. One has to look a bit for it; it will not stick out "like a sore thumb". To give some idea of the event, I will copy the report I submitted to my RASC listserve Monday morning. Also, I urge you to go to http:// www.spaceweather.com/ and check out the Comet Gallery and also the sky map for finding it. The opportune time would be probably 5:15 to 5:40 p.m. and I stress the necessity for an unobstructed western sky down to a low horizon. I also have posted one of my own photos on my site: http://www.glinx.com/~sherm/diagrams/c2006p1-swilliams-13b.jpg The photos at Spaceweather will give some idea of the comet view especially in binoculars (binoculars are a must for a good view. Use Venus to get started (low and bright in the WSW after sunset) and use it to judge where the comet should be (to the right and at nearly the same level as Venus and above the sunset point). Venus should be visible easily between 5 and 5:15 p.m. in a clear sky. Some of the photos at spaceweather are morning views( tail to the left of the bright comet head), some are evening views (tail to the right). Hope the sky co-operates soon in allowing an observation as good as last Sunday evening was for me. Sunday's observation follows: All the best, Sherman > Hi to all, > > Jan 7th: What a GREAT finish Comet McNaught made to what was > already a wonderful day! This was the 9th annual Willie's Winter > Bird Count: my brothers (I have 7 of them ) and I get together > this time in January, in the Pugwash-Pugwash Junction area, for a > fun day focused around seeing how many individual birds and bird > species we can observe. > > Today, about 5 p.m.. we were bringing that part of the day's > events to a close and had driven to a hilltop where we had an > unobstructed view of the western horizon (we were anticipating the > possibility of getting a view of Comet McNaught but weren't at all > certain what to expect). In spite of a few quickly moving, low > clouds near the horizon, most of us had Venus in view right away. > Somewhere between 5:05 and 5:10 a very excited exclamation had > gone out that a binocular view of the comet had been obtained. > With the help of a couple of clouds used as pointers, everyone soon > joined in the excitement, amazed by the comet's brightness and its > visible tail. > > Having seen the photo submitted on Jan 6th's "Spaceweather" and > having noted Roy's posting, I had anticipated that it could likely > be a view worth the effort if the sky co-operated. Well it DID! > and it was! a GREAT SIGHT. The Williams brothers and a young nephew > (a 10yr-old) were standing in an ideal location, drinking in the > view via their binoculars. What a perfect ending to the day! In my > nephew's excited words, "MY FIRST COMET EVER! It has a fat tail! WOW!" > > I set up my little 60 mm refractor for an additional point of view, > but I think most agreed that the binocular views were just as > impressive. Occasionaly the moving cloud would briefly interfere > with the view , but it was low tree tops along the horizon that > finally blocked the comet from view at about 5:45 p.m. We had been > able to detect it with the unaided eye for about the last 15 or 20 > minutes before it was lost to view. > > I would say that the magnitude must have been somewhere close to > minus one. > > This is one "Willie's Winter Bird Count" that will be long > remembered! > > According to my Starry Night simulation, we could possibly get > another good view if we get a clear evening during the next 3 or 4 > days. > > Sherman Williams PS: we counted about 20 different bird species > and a total of near 700 individual birds (lower than usual , > probably frrom lack of winter conditions). This is the first time > since we began our January bird count that our view of > Northumberland Strait has been totally ice free. Sherman Williams sherm@glinx.com website: http://www.glinx.com/~sherm
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects