Comet McNaught

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Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:45 pm

OK, I admit it's not scam related at all. However, this comet is the brightest in 40 something years and is more spectacular than Halley, Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp. More information is available here.

Antipodean viewers could also try this page.

Please heed warnings regarding eye safety.

Happy comet gazing Very Happy

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:50 am

Being a semi, but former amatuer astronomer, I tried to get a peek. But that close seperation from the sun was a bit too much for me to make it out. Any word about when it spit's out on the other side of the big yellow ball? Or has it already?

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:11 am

The current sky map for N. Hemisphere viewers is here.

I'll be spending some time over the next few weeks trying to take better pics than I did of Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp.

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:04 am

If you're ever told to "stick it where the sun don't (sic) shine," ask them why said object needs to come to my part of the world.

Thus, I will not see it when it would be visible to me. Crying or Very sad

Of course, if you say it's worth it, then perhaps I'll have to take a 100 mile drive to go see it.

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:27 pm

I've recently returned from a quick visit to a local beach. Admittedly, there is some hype associated with this but I managed to see the comet. Just visible in twilight to the naked eye but binoculars or a small telescope will help.

After sunset I took about 24 shots from a tripod mounted camera with a 400mm lens. A pity that I'll have to wait for the film to be processed before being able to post any pics Sad

It was interesting to watch the sun set and the comet plunge over the horizon about 35 or 40 minutes later.

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:11 pm

I tried yesterday about three P.M. The local haze made things impossible. I also tried at sunset, same issues I believe due to the haze. Venus was very bright but its about 10 degrees behind the sun. If I don't see it today at noon, I'm doing what 0111/1001 did and driving to the beach.

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:15 pm

I was watching for it today. All I got was a headache. Confused

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:46 pm

7 of 9

love the info on the link

"Stars are for reference only. They are not visible in the daytime"

Can this be viewed from 54 or so deg N, 0 deg E?

Fen

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:04 pm

A couple more links for comet hunters:
Sky Tonight .
This Simulation is interesting, however it and a page on the sky tonight website indicate the event now favours S. hemisphere viewers.

In the meantime, there are a reasonable number of galleries with decent images.

[self slap mode] Should have realised sooner the comet trajectory was not going to favour everyone.......[/self slap mode]