[meteorite-list] C/2006 M4 visible this evening

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Oct 5 17:16:57 2006
Message-ID: <006501c6e8c3$9271dc00$157e4b44_at_ATARIENGINE>

Hi,

    Now that we can see C/2006 M4 after sunset, I
imagine more people might try to see it than would
at five in the morning. If you've never tried locating
an object near the horizon, you just have to find a
spot where you can actually see the true astronomical
horizon. It's harder than you might think.
    Even in the flattest country, the "horizon" can be
up to 10 deg above the actual horizon. In many places,
the "horizon" is up to 20 deg above the actual horizon.
You need to go somewhere where you are high above
flat terrain. On the West Coast, that's... well, the West
Coast, on high ground above the sea. Or any west facing
coast. Or on the western slope of a mountain (or hill)
that's not overtopped to the west. Otherwise, head
for any isolated high ground with a clear view to the
west unobstructed by other high ground.
    I've got my spot for a try picked out. Throw your
binoculars in the car and head for the hills.


Sterling K. Webb
----------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matson, Robert" <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_saic.com>
To: "Sterling K. Webb" <sterling_k_webb_at_sbcglobal.net>; "Meteorite Mailing
List" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 2:01 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] C/2006 M4 visible this evening


Hi Sterling,

Thanks for the "plug" on my little baby, and for posting the link to
that beautiful image on APOD taken by Michael J?ger & Gerald Rhemann.
I'm told there's an article on C/2006 M4 (SWAN) in this month's Sky
& Telescope which I'll need to pick up. (Astronomy magazine, on the
other hand, has not said one peep about C/2006 M4, which is strange
given that it's the brightest comet in the sky right now.)

By the way, now that we're into the first week of October, you don't
have to get up at o'dark thirty in the morning to see C/2006 M4. It's
visible in the early evening very low in the northwest. For example,
in Los Angeles the comet will be about 13 degrees above the NW
horizon at 7:09 pm tonight (when the sun is 8 degrees below the
horizon). At higher latitudes, evening visibility is better; from
New York City, the elevation will be about 17 degrees at 7:12pm EDT
when the sun is 8 degrees below the horizon (7:12pm EDT).

Each night the comet will be higher in the evening sky, so the view
will continue to improve...

Cheers,
Rob
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Received on Thu 05 Oct 2006 05:16:49 PM PDT