[meteorite-list] Comet McNaught Photo From Gemini South Telescope in Chile

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 18:21:54 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200701220221.SAA27691_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

Gemini Observatory
Hilo, Hawaii

19 January 2007

Comet McNaught Captured from Cerro Pachon

Marie-Claire Hainaut, a member of the Gemini science staff, was observing
with the Gemini South telescope in central Chile on the night of January
18th when she captured this image of Comet McNaught in the twilight sky. The
recently arrived Comet McNaught has put on a world-wide show over the last
two weeks during its apparition in the western sky. Surprising even veteran
comet researchers, McNaught has become the brightest comet visible in over
40 years. The image taken by Marie-Claire shows the bright nucleus low in
the sky over the town of Andacollo in the foothills of the central Andes.
The sweeping dust tail of the comet can be seen extending over 30 degrees
toward the zenith.

When asked about the image Marie-Claire noted, "When I went outside from the
telescope control room and looked to the west I was stunned The comet and
its amazingly large tail were a truly amazing sight. I took as many pictures
as I possibly could while getting ready for the observing night!"

Comet McNaught will continue to be visible from the southern hemisphere but
is expected to fade rapidly as its distance from both the Sun and Earth
increases. By the end of January it will be low in the southern sky but
likely still visible to the naked eye.

[NOTE: The image is available at
http://www.gemini.edu/images/stories/websplash/ws2007-3/fig1_full.jpg
(3.9MB)]
Received on Sun 21 Jan 2007 09:21:54 PM PST