Posted on 01/11/2005 7:22:02 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
Comet Machholz (Comet 2004 Q2) Page
Comet Machholz is current overhead in the early evening. Comet hunter (and SJAA club member) Don Machholz discovered it last August. How he discovered the comet was described in his article in the SJAA Ephemeris.
The comet is now nearly overhead at California latitudes. In a dark sky it should be visible as a non distinct patch of light. As of January 4, 2005 it was even visible within the San Jose city limits. Unfortunately the weather there has not been cooperating.
The comet is easily visible in telescope finder or binoculars
Caught it myself here around Kennedy Space Center...crystal clear skies.
got all excited and prepared with your directions, ran to the door, and DOH, it's still snowing...
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.
I'll bet you're seeing lots of fuzzy objects in the sky ... LOL!
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.
Hola Neighbor!
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.
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) :(
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.
Plainly visible from here in beautiful Auburn, about 15 miles from the discoverer's home.
I was a kid in 1986 and saw it in the Pocono's while away in camp...it was amazing.
west coast bump
Unfortunately we're overcast tonight.
Howdy neighbor.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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...
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