[meteorite-list] Brightest Comet in 30 Years: Comet C/2006 P1(McNaught)

From: Thomas Tuchan <thomas.tuchan_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:57:06 +0100
Message-ID: <45A53702.3070208_at_t-online.de>

Hello :-)

I took a nice picture from the comet a few minutes ago ...

http://www.sternhimmel-ueber-ulm.de/scratch/McNaughtk.jpg

Bigger version:
http://www.sternhimmel-ueber-ulm.de/scratch/McNaught.jpg

And a video:
http://www.sternhimmel-ueber-ulm.de/scratch/McNaught.avi

Thomas
IMCA #0298
http://www.sternhimmel-ueber-ulm.de


Sterling K. Webb schrieb:
> Hi, List,
>
> I posted this following about Comet McNaught
> last night after I got back from my first look at it,
> but it disappeared into the temporary black hole the
> List was transiting and never appeared on the other
> side.
> Let's try it again. I added a few comments.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Comet McNaught is very bright, very
> visible, but very poorly placed to be seen
> easily. It is extremely low on the horizon
> by the time it can be seen. Because it is so
> low it can only be seen for another 2-3 days
> in the evening sky [from the northern
> hemisphere].
>
> I got a look at it the first time just this
> evening. Right now, it's trailing the Sun,
> getting closer and closer to the Sun, until
> Jan. 12 when it will race around it at only
> half the distance of Mercury. The comet's
> orbit isn't in the flat plane of the solar
> system; it coming in from "above" (north)
> of the system and will go out "below"
> (south), In fact the plane of its orbit is
> turned almost at right angles to the plane
> of the solar system. Here's how the orbit
> looks:
> http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/db_shm?des=2006+P1
>
> So, basically, locating it's not a problem. Find
> a place where you can see ALL the way down to
> the western horizon. Wait till after the Sun sets
> The first thing you will see is Venus, bright as
> a spotlight. As it gets darker, look to the right
> of Venus and down, immediately north of the
> spot where the Sun has set. As it gets darker,
> you should spot the comet. Binoculars will help
> if the horizon is hazy. My horizon was so hazy
> that it never was "naked-eye" visible [to me at
> least], but it showed up in small (7x35) binoculars
> wonderfully. By the time it's dark enough to see
> the comet it will be less than five degrees above the
> horizon, most likely.
>
> Of course, this all assumes good weather, clear
> skies, no clouds, but it's getting so bright so fast
> that even haze doesn't hide it. Here's a good sky
> chart:
> http://skytonight.com/observing/highlights/5089276.html
>
> It's really LOW in the sky... If this puppy were
> up at the top of the sky, people would stand and
> gawk, like they say, but you've got hunt it down.
>
> The professionals are cautious about the tail of
> the comet being visible, but tonight the tail seemed
> brighter than the head of the comet. That could just
> be because the head was deeper in the haze. But I
> could see 2 degrees or more of tail even with all
> that haze.
>
> [As you can tell from the tone of the spaceweather
> piece, they're getting more enthusiastic by the day
> as this comet puts on a better and better show. In
> particular, the tail of the comet seems to be especially
> bright, even brighter than the head/coma, or it did to
> me last night.]
>
> Paradoxically, it will get brighter each night up
> through Jan. 12th, but it will be closer to the Sun
> each night and the viewing time will be shorter and
> the comet lower in the sky.
>
> It's worth a look. Probably the biggest carboneous
> chondrite you'll see for years, and it's headed AWAY
> from eBay.
>
>
> Sterling K. Webb
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ron Baalke" <baalke at zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>
> To: "Meteorite Mailing List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 12:15 PM
> Subject: [meteorite-list] Brightest Comet in 30 Years: Comet C/2006
> P1(McNaught)
>
>
>
>> Space Weather News for Jan. 10, 2007
>> http://spaceweather.com
>>
>> Comet McNaught has continued to brighten as it approaches
>> the sun and it is now the brightest comet in 30 years.
>> For observers in the northern Hemisphere, tonight is
>> probably the best time to see it: Go outside this
>> evening and face the sunset. A clear view of the
>> western horizon is essential, because the comet hangs
>> very low. As the twilight fades to black, it should
>> become visible to the naked eye. Observers say it's a
>> fantastic sight through binoculars.
>>
>> In the days ahead, Comet McNaught will pass the sun and
>> emerge in good position for southern hemisphere viewing
>> later this month. Meanwhile, solar heating will
>> continue to puff up the comet, causing it to brighten
>> even more. It could become one of the brightest comets
>> in centuries, visible even in daylit skies.
>>
>> Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and updates.
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
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Received on Wed 10 Jan 2007 01:57:06 PM PST