Heads Up North America...Comet Machholz Visible Tonight

Comet Machholz ^

[My Favorite Headache]

Caught it myself here around Kennedy Space Center...crystal clear skies.

[bitt]

got all excited and prepared with your directions, ran to the door, and DOH, it's still snowing...

[CFC__VRWC]

Just went outside to take a peep and found the comet easily due to very clear skies in NC this evening.

I just spotted it myself down here in central Florida. We've been having spectacular weather down here (getting ours back from the hurricanes this summer). I could just barely make it out with my eye, but got a decent look at it with my binoculars.

This is my third comet. I saw one in Maryland back in 1996 or so (don't recall the name), and of course Hale Bopp was just incredible. I was in Gainesville at the time, and there would be nights where I'd just drive out into the boonies, find a spot and lay on my back for hours just watching it.

[kayak]

I'll bet you're seeing lots of fuzzy objects in the sky ... LOL!

[Chummy]

Thank you!

This weekend Machholz should be just a bit higher than that shown on this image. Just a few days ago it was in the Pleiades.

[My Favorite Headache]

Hola Neighbor!

[kayak]

I could sit at my computer in an upstairs bedroom and see HaleBopp out the window each night for weeks on end. Never did catch of glimpse of the space ship though ... ;-)

I've seen several comets, including Halley's the last time it was visible. It was a huge disappointment. I grew up hearing my grandmother talking about seeing it in 1910, so bright it was visible even during the day. And it had a very long tail, while all we saw was a fuzzy ball, not much more impressive than this one tonight.

[CFC__VRWC]

Back at ya! I'm over in eastern Polk County. Nice dark skies for comet watching. I'm just loving this weather while I can (supposed to go nasty on us again for the weekend, though) :(

[CFC__VRWC]

I was disappointed with Halley's as well - I never did get to see it. Supposedly when it made its 1986 visit the earth was on the far side of its orbit in relation to the comet, so it was very hard to see. It's supposed to be much more impressive when it returns in 2062. There's a very outside chance that I'll get to see it - have to live to 98 to do that, though.

[kayak]

I'll be 116 then so am not really counting on seeing Halley's on its next return. That's why 1986 was such a disappointment ... I knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

[j.havenfarm]

Plainly visible from here in beautiful Auburn, about 15 miles from the discoverer's home.

[My Favorite Headache]

I was a kid in 1986 and saw it in the Pocono's while away in camp...it was amazing.

[My Favorite Headache]

west coast bump

[GVnana]

Don Macholz lives only a few miles from me. We're real proud of him around here. BTW he conducts free star-gazing parties on a regular basis.

Unfortunately we're overcast tonight.

[GVnana]

Howdy neighbor.

[Central Scrutiniser]

He used to live in Phoenix, know some people that observed with him.

As for Halley's, I had an incredible view of it on a beach down off the Sea of Cortez before sunrise, amazing stuff.

[Central Scrutiniser]

I have the same Criterion 6 inch scope he does!

Got it in 1979, still does a good job, but thinking about selling it for a new Celestron 8 with all the good stuff pre programmed into its computer...

Toys!

[GVnana]

Oooh. I envy you. Tried to see it when I lived in So. Cal. but it wasn't very spectacular. Trying to remember the name of one in 1996 (?) Got a gorgeous view of that one.

[Central Scrutiniser]

An airline pilot friend of mine had a great Hale-Bopp sighting, she was flying late night to Anchorage and it was in her window all night with the aurora dancing around it.

[no-s]

Northern California San Francisco Peninsula - Got it with 12x50 binocular. After I found it I was able to discern it with the naked eye. My daughter was able to see it too. Like a fuzzy ball of blue milk...