Catch Comet McNaught Now !

Sky & Telescope ^ | 1-9-07 | Tony Flanders

[Orlando]

"If you live in the Northern hemisphere, this evening is your best remaining opportunity to catch Comet McNaught in its full glory. The comet is sinking rapidly from one evening to the next, but it's also getting brighter.."

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

My luck...constant cloud and snow when there's a comet to see...wouldn't be the first time!
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LOL,,Happens Every Time Here Too !!...;0)

[steve86]

I say the twilight is "behind" the comet but of course one is viewing the comet through the twilight.

The illusion that the comet or a bright star is in front of the twilight is quite strong, however.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

TANKS,,,Great Pic...

[TXnMA]

Heads up!!!

It looks as if Comet McNaught has just made its appearance in the SOHO field (at about the 11:00 position) -- and, boy, is it bright!!

[Domandred]

I missed it tonight due to weather. Pulled up my Starry Night and looks like I got maybe a 10 minute window to catch it from here when it's dark enough to see and still above the horizon at about 17:06 to 17:16

[TXnMA]

In the next couple of days, the 48-hr MPEGs of the SOHO LASCO-3 field at

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/LATEST/current_c3small.mpg

should be well worth watching.

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(The above URL is for the small (256 X 256) MPEG. The larger (512 X 512) MPEG at

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/LATEST/current_c3.mpg

appears to have a problem right now)

[kkmo9]

Tanks, Count! Too much snow to see across the street, let alone the western horizon!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.

[geopyg]

The one day it happened to be clear here in Seattle! It was neat. The sun went down in an orange glow behind the city and 10 minutes later there it was. Although the photos are much better, its pretty neat seeing in person this object from outside our solar system paying a visit.

[TXnMA]

I just posted a Mcnaught/SOHO thread...

Here's the image:

[WSGilcrest]

Stellarium ...

You too, eh? Have you ever seen Celestia?

[TXnMA]

"Have you ever seen Celestia?"

Nope. In fact, I just downloaded Stellarium after it was featured in a thread here on FR a couple of weeks or so ago...

[TXnMA]

Just took a good look at Celestia. and it looks really good. Since I'm 'way out in the boonies at the end of a limp wet string (AKA dialup that seldom exceeds 26K) I'll start the download when I retire for the night.

BTW, did anyone ever offer a Celestia add-on for Comet McNaught? I resorted to plotting-in the approximate location (by eyeball) on Stellarium so that I could animate its movement through pre/post sunset time...

[WSGilcrest]

Pop on over here --> http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/ There's a link in the sixth article down the page.

[Orlando]

WOW that's BIG!
THANKS

[La Enchiladita]

I saw it tonight, @ 5:45 p.m., dusk our time, very bright above the WSW horizon. Very bright.

[Orlando]

Thanks.
As of Jan 12th it's now @ -4.5 MAG , which makes it number #2.

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/CometMags.html

We still don't have data to establish the size of this giant that is now coming downward to sol.

Have you seen the real-time SOHO L-3 images ?
It's BIG (Planet-size?)

[Orlando]

bump

[NormsRevenge]

There she goes... : The McNaught comet is seen early morning from Pucon, Calafquen Lake sector, Chile. (AFP/David Lillo)

[NormsRevenge]

a couple more photos at
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/gallery/1750