[meteorite-list] Comet McNaught report from the Rhein-Main Area

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:34:38 -0600
Message-ID: <004101c7381b$6a1f5820$04e18c46_at_ATARIENGINE>

Hi, Bernd, and all Comet Hopefuls

    This brightening to daylight status was forecast
first by Joseph Marcus and published on the Astrosite
Groningen: http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro/
    It will only last up through the day of January 16th.
The super-brightening is caused by "forward scatter"
of light off the dust tail during this period of time
(Jan. 12-16) when the tail is in the right position for
we Earthlings to benefit from the effect.
    "His [Marcus's] study shows that an increase in
brightness of about 2.5 magnitudes can be expected
at the time that the minimum scattering angle ? is
reached on January 14.3. As a consequence it is well
possible that this comet can be observed in broad
daylight close to the sun for several days around
that time. Probably binoculars or small telescopes
will be needed if sky conditions are less than optimal,
but naked eye visiblity should be easy under clear
transparant skies."
    His latest predictions can be found at:
http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro/C2006P1.doc
They suggest a maximum brightness of magnitude
-5.7, or FIVE TIMES brighter than Venus. This would
make Comet McNaught a very remarkable daylight
object indeed.
    If so and your skies are clear, Bernd, just walk
out into your garden!
    I've been searching satellite imagery for the US,
thinking in my hopeful way that perhaps I could
drive 200 kilometers to find clear skies. The entire
comtinental US, at this moment, is blanketed with
thick clouds except for California, Oregon, half
of Arizona, parts of Florida, and the mountains
of North Carolina. (They're "only" 2000 kilometers
away from me.)
    Thus, I expect few US observers will have much
luck with the daylight comet. Anyone fortunate
enough to have clear skies should give it a try.


Sterling K. Webb
-------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: <bernd.pauli at paulinet.de>
To: <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 12:31 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Comet McNaught report from the Rhein-Main Area


> Hello Cometaries,
>
> Well, we finally had a sunny Sunday and a beautiful sunset to look forward
> to after several days of rain and drizzle. I drove out into the fields
> where
> I was able to enjoy an unobstructed view of the western sky but my efforts
> to locate and observe McNaught came to naught. Mr McNaught was n a u g h t
> seen ... too close to the horizon, too close to the Sun :-((
>
> Bernd
>
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Received on Sun 14 Jan 2007 03:34:38 PM PST