Comet McNaught

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sun 14/01/2007 12:12

Doesanyone know if this will be visible from New Zealand??

http://www.spaceweather.com/

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0701/S00023.htm

Ok found out we should should see it!! read last link!

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Mon 15/01/2007 12:43

It's bright enough to see in daylight if you know where to look. You have to be careful as it's only 6 degrees from the sun.

Attached is photo (processed with curves) I took about 30 minutes ago.

Should be impressive this week ... if we get clear skies at the right times

Peter · Unread post by **Peter** » Mon 15/01/2007 12:57

Where should I look? relative to the Sun and the Moon which is currently visible in the sky - located in Auckland

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Mon 15/01/2007 13:09

Standing/sitting so that the sun is just behind the corner of a building, the comet is straight to the right at this time. Make a fist with your thumb along the side, holding it at arms length is the distance that the comet is from the sun. This will get bigger every day.

I found it very difficult to see with the naked eye because it's so hard to focus and only caught a quick glimpse. Much easier with binoculars/scope but more dangerous, too.

NOTE: Please be careful not to look at the sun. Direct sunlight through binoculars or a telescope can cause permanent eye damage.

spike_01 · Unread post by **spike_01** » Mon 15/01/2007 20:22

Awesome... Will check it out... I well remeber seeing Halleys Comet in 1986...

spike_01 · Unread post by **spike_01** » Mon 15/01/2007 20:23

Oh and the trick then to see it easier was to sort of see it through the corner of ya eye, and not to look directly at it...

Razor · Unread post by **Razor** » Tue 16/01/2007 08:51

saw it last night, very clearly with naked eye if you know where to look. Had an astronomy mate help.

With Binoculars it was fantastic!

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Tue 16/01/2007 12:33

Weather isnt doing us any favours here in Canterbury!!

gllitz · Unread post by **gllitz** » Tue 16/01/2007 14:10

03Stormchaser wrote:Weather isnt doing us any favours here in Canterbury!!

TOO RIGHT, MATE!!! GRUMBLE, grumble...#$%$&$%^#$ cloudy weather...

spike_01 · Unread post by **spike_01** » Tue 16/01/2007 17:27

Has been clear blue sky here all day... I still cant see the thing...

Might be the over 50 year old eyes though...

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Tue 16/01/2007 17:58

Sunrise and set are the best time to see it, fingers crossed tonight holds up alright.

Currently patchy high cloud about, if it stays like this we may see something!!

gllitz · Unread post by **gllitz** » Tue 16/01/2007 20:18

Hello All-
Here's a great link for you amateur astronomers out there...the site is pretty straightforward...

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

Just plug in your LAT/LONG and you're away laughin'

To get (any) comet, you need to plug in the orbital elements, though. For comet McNaught they are:

C/McNaught (2006 P1) 53990 0.17075400 1.00003006 77.82768 155.97229 267.41347 20070112.79668 JPL 15

(in the Asteroid and Comet tracking box)

Get them from here:

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/catalog ... omets.html

Here's hoping a little bit for tonight! Skies appear to be clearing pretty well here in CHCH.
ENJOY!!

Storm Struck · Unread post by **Storm Struck** » Tue 16/01/2007 22:12

It stayed a clear sky almost apart from disapated CU which poped up early evening to the SW only to obscure seeing the comet

.
Cheers
Jason.

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Tue 16/01/2007 22:48

Not ideal conditions but good enough to see and photograph it from near Templeton.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Tue 16/01/2007 22:56

Fantastic stuff Steven!!

Fingers crossed for another 'Comet Chaser Convention' tomorow night!!

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Tue 16/01/2007 23:07

Nice pic there Steven.

Hopefully something a little better tomorrow night at the next convention as Steve says.

Cheers

mikestormchaser · Unread post by **mikestormchaser** » Tue 16/01/2007 23:27

I am very proud i got too se that.

looking south! nice site

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Tue 16/01/2007 23:31

My attempt!!

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Wed 17/01/2007 06:32

Those photos look excellent.

Cloudy weather here is preventing a view from AK.

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Wed 17/01/2007 07:16

That wide angle photo looks great, Steve. The comet is starting to "trail" on my later shots over about 1/2sec exposure on the 500mm.

Fingers crossed for clear skies this evening !!!

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Wed 17/01/2007 07:33

Great pics, will have to watch out for this comet, should be a clear evening or two comming up.

spike_01 · Unread post by **spike_01** » Wed 17/01/2007 19:25

Awesome pics...

Look out, it is clear as out to the South West here right now... Roll on Sunset...

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Wed 17/01/2007 19:29

hmm not so lucky here, alot of cloud about may ruin any viewing tonight.

spike_01 · Unread post by **spike_01** » Thu 18/01/2007 06:51

Saw it clear as last night... Thought I would be too late so grabbed camera in a hurry... Pic is cr@p...

Taken at 9:35pm...

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Thu 18/01/2007 15:16

Should be able to see it from ChCh tonight, although there is abit of high cloud about, you should still be able to see it.

If anyone from ChCh is keen we could meet up, south of templeton to view it, on Dawsons rd.

If you follow Waterloo rd south, you hit templeton. At the stop sign go right then first left (Railway tce) which then becomes Jones rd. Follow this till Dawsons road on your right and about half way in between Maddiosns and Jones road there is a good view to the south.

btw if its not Maddisons rd its the next one on the right off Jones rd, Curraghs rd.

EDIT: although looking at the sat map things arnt looking that great!
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/currentwe ... p?state=NZ

Should be good for the Northern'ers!!

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