Are those comets able to be seen

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Thu 29/04/2004 21:21

Are those comets NEAT and that other one viewable yet barring the weather in our southern skies

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Thu 29/04/2004 21:55

Yes. I viewed NEAT (C/2001 Q4) through binoculars a few minutes ago, and LINEAR (C/2002 T7) last week. If you go outside right now (assuming it's clear in Auckland) and look to the SSW, NEAT is right below Canopus. LINEAR will rise around 4:15 tomorrow in the east.

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Thu 29/04/2004 22:05

Thanks I dont have a telescope but one is circumpolar and in the morning and the other near Canis Major in the west I believe

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Thu 29/04/2004 22:07

thanks

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Thu 29/04/2004 22:08

Michael wrote:Thanks I dont have a telescope but one is circumpolar and in the morning and the other near Canis Major in the west I believe

Both are clearly visible to the average naked eye down here. You'll need a pair of binoculars in Auckland's light polluted skies though. If you can rustle up a pair, look a few degrees below Canopus and you can't miss NEAT.

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Thu 29/04/2004 22:18

I think I saw it I went directly blow Canopus and saw stars like this-the face is the comet

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Its pushed them all to a side,there were 4 stars shaped like a "sickle to the east below Canopus then just to the right 2 faint stars and just below it a blurry thing then all the pine trees here that face due SW and blow the debri when the gales blow

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Thu 29/04/2004 22:23

Michael wrote:I think I saw it I went directly blow Canopus and saw stars like this-the face is the comet

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Man, you have great eyes! I couldn't see a face!

It's an indistinct patch, resembling a fuzzy star, but with an obvious tail.

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Thu 29/04/2004 22:30

Yes I think its it as the stars are clear and this thing is blurry it looked like the tail is pointing up.It has almost "set" here as the trees are in the way

plus the clouds are rolling in too

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Tue 18/05/2004 18:33

Nice views of the comets tonight Neat is in Cancer just below and to the right of the beehive cluster and Linear is slightly brighter(to my eyes and draw a line through the middle star of the pot and through Rigel and veer down a bit to the SW and it can be seen

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Tue 18/05/2004 18:41

No way you would see comets from ChCh, too cloudy down here as Steven Graham would tell you

BOAC flew comets in the late 60s, first commercial jet airliner, was like Concorde in those days.

JohnGaul
NZTS

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Thu 27/05/2004 22:04

Gary as you are in a position to see comet Neat still(being in Lynx)-too far north whats its brightness compared to Linear.Linear is easy to see well above Procyon(It was last night but we have a NE here now so nothing can be seen

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Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Fri 28/05/2004 01:46

Michael wrote:Gary as you are in a position to see comet Neat still(being in Lynx)-too far north whats its brightness compared to Linear.Linear is easy to see well above Procyon(It was last night but we have a NE here now so nothing can be seen )

Alas, light pollution here in Toyota City is such that I can barely see the moon! :-\