CometChasing : Messages : 1-30 of 1693

Thanks a lot for setting this group up, Greg—I've felt a little
intimidated when posting in the Comets mailing list.

I observed C/2002 V1 (NEAT) tonight from Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New
York. It was easy to pick up, despite the twilight, moonlight, light
pollution, and glare off the snow-covered ground (kids were sledding
nearby).

Feb 9.97, magnitude 3.5,  coma diameter=3', Degree of Condensation=8-
9,  Tail=0.3 degrees in position angle of 40 degrees, 20x80 binoculars

The observation is of limited scientific value because of the heavy
light pollution (I was looking almost into the glow from Manhattan, a
few miles away--no doubt much of the tail, not to mention the coma,
was washed out), not to mention my newness in making such
estimations, but the comet has definitely become quite bright. It was
only my second time seeing it; I had been frustrated in several
recent attempts by clouds, light pollution, and lack of anything
remotely resembling an acceptable observing site (in terms of
darkness, safety, and/or privacy) in my neighborhood; as it was, I
had to take 3 subways to get to Prospect Park—but it was well worth
the trip. I got to test out my new Burgess 20x80 binoculars—a
beautiful instrument: very sharp images (sharp nearly to the edge of
the wide apparent field-of-view, some modest chromatic abberation on
bright objects).

Clear (and hopefully not too light-polluted) skies,

Tony

********************************************
http://home.earthlink.net/~tonyhoffman/astronomy.htm

Amateur Astronomers Association
   of New York: (www.aaa.org)

#29

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Sun Feb 9, 2003 9:27 pm
Subject: 2002 V1 (NEAT) brightens unexpectedly

capellasoft

Offline

Hi,

There are reports coming in from Europe that 2002 V1 has brightened by
about a magnitude in just that last 24 hours.

Clear skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

#28

From: "Jim <fromalongcreek@...>" <fromalongcreek@...>
Date: Sun Feb 9, 2003 3:08 pm
Subject: I found it too!

fromalongcreek

Offline

Hi, I just joined this group yesterday. I am always interested to
see comets, and I wanted to tell everyone that I found Comet NEAT
2002 V1, last night. It was very compact, almost star-like but after
looking at it for a few minutes through my Minolta 7x50 bino's I did
glimpse the tail, pointing upwards. Now if only the weather would
cooperate for a few more nights....

Jim

#27

From: "gfphoto2003 <gfphoto1@...>" <gfphoto1@...>
Date: Sat Feb 8, 2003 12:11 am
Subject: Re: newbie question

gfphoto2003

Offline

--- In CometChasing@yahoogroups.com, "mauenlee <mauenlee@y...>"
<mauenlee@y...> wrote:
> hi phil,

> please thank him for us for this great program!!!
>
> mau-en

You can email him - I did to thank him - he was very nice.

Gary Fuchs

#26

From: "mauenlee <mauenlee@...>" <mauenlee@...>
Date: Fri Feb 7, 2003 11:52 pm
Subject: Re: newbie question

mauenlee

Online Now

hi everyone,

thanks for the tip... i just figured out with everyone's help how to
get comets to come up on CDC...  but good question, gary...  how do
we see all of them intead of just the specific one that we picked...
that is, can CDC (or anything else) just display all the viewable
comets?

thanks again,
mau-en

--- In CometChasing@yahoogroups.com, "gfphoto2003 <gfphoto1@e...>"
<gfphoto1@e...> wrote:
> --- In CometChasing@yahoogroups.com, Philippe HAAKE <beruberu@f...>
> wrote:
>
> > In CDC 2.75 you just open online ressources and it will download
> > automaticly the orbital elements
> >
> > Very easy
>
> Indeed! Thanks for the tip.
>
> Would you know if CDC can display more than one comet at a time?
> The "search" box seems to allow only one choice.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Gary Fuchs
> New Jersey, USA

#21

From: "gfphoto2003 <gfphoto1@...>" <gfphoto1@...>
Date: Fri Feb 7, 2003 3:24 am
Subject: Re: newbie question

gfphoto2003

Offline

--- In CometChasing@yahoogroups.com, Philippe HAAKE <beruberu@f...>
wrote:

> In CDC 2.75 you just open online ressources and it will download
> automaticly the orbital elements
>
> Very easy

Indeed! Thanks for the tip.

Would you know if CDC can display more than one comet at a time?
The "search" box seems to allow only one choice.

Thank you,

Gary Fuchs
New Jersey, USA

#20

From: Philippe HAAKE <beruberu@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 9:56 pm
Subject: Re: newbie question

beruberu1

Offline

On Thu, 06 Feb 2003 10:19:23 -0700, you wrote:

>Hi,

>Finder charts and other current information:
>http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
>
>Orbital elements for various software:
>http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/SoftwareComets.html
>
>I don't see CDC on the list above but perhaps it uses the MPC format.
Hello
In CDC 2.75 you just open online ressources and it will download
automaticly the orbital elements

Very easy


Best Greetings From SWITZERLAND
Phil
ICQ 3128404
http://astrosurf.com/skylover/

http://astroclub.net/sag/index.html
http://community.webshots.com/user/beruberu1
beruberu@...

#19

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 5:42 pm
Subject: Re: Re: Comets, comets everywhere

capellasoft

Offline

Hi Gary,

I'm copying some of my earlier private reply here because it may be of
interest to the group.

gfphoto2003  wrote:
> Greg,
>
> Sounds like a good idea for a group!
>
> I'm a beginner in astronomy - when you say a 4" scope, or a "small"
> scope, are you referring to reflectors?
>
> I have an 80mm f9 refractor. How do your scope size suggestions work
> for this?

The type of scope doesn't really matter all that much.  Let's see, an
80mm scope is about 3 inches.  A three-inch scope can typically see
comets as faint as about 10.5 magnitude from a dark site.  A beginner
should probably stick to comets that are about 9.5 magnitude and
brighter in such a scope.

That still leaves several comets available to you this month: 2002 V1,
2002 X5, and 2002 Y1.  We won't really know how bright 2002 X5 is going
to be until someone actually sees it later this month.  2002 V1 should
be a terrific object in your scope, showing a faint tail.  The sooner
you can see it the better though as it gets lower each night and the
moon is beginning to interfere.  Once you have been successful with 2002
V1, then I suggest giving 2002 Y1 a try.  It may be a little bit harder.

Clear skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

#18

From: "Martin, Grant" <gmartin@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 6:17 pm
Subject: RE: C/2002 V1 (NEAT)

grantmartin2000

Offline

I have attached an earlier log rather than retype what I have
already typed on 26 January. Since then I have made several additional
observations.

	 On 4 February, I was able to actually make out a slight tail
attached to this object. Conditions for this observation had improved
considerably and fell into the "only 10 nights a year" category
(Transparency (mag3) and seeing conditions 4+ Bortle scale). Far superior to
the evening of the 24th and 26th (standard mag 2 and 3 conditions).

The coma appeared to be several minutes in diameter before fading into the
background "skyglow". The tail was visible in my 15x63 binos and my 8" F4
scope and had a distinct fan shape extending approximately 3 coma diameters
from the nucleus. Averted vision showed a thin, wispy like extension from
the edge of the fan extending an additional 4 coma diameters. all in all
much better in appearance than last years comet Ikaya

	 I observe under heavily light polluted skies which rarely exceed a
naked eye transparency of mag 2. I also am very new at making comet
magnitude estimates but between 4 Feb and 26 Jan, the comet has noticeably
brightened even considering observing conditions. During the 4 Feb
observations, the core of the comet was very much brighter and larger than
the 24/26 Jan observations.


Observing Log Entries for C/2002 V1 (NEAT)

Date: 2003 January 26 20:30
Observer: Me [Grant Martin]
Location: St. Chuck [St. Charles Missouri]
Instrument: Naked Eye
Object Type: Comet
Apparent Position: RA. 23h19m16.0s Dec. +08°18'53" (Peg)
Magnitude:  6.3
Object Altitude: 11°
Conditions:
Description: This is the SkyTools log entry that I made for this comet [on
this date]

	 Early Friday evening (January 24th 2003), I observed this comet in
7x50 and
15x63 binoculars exactly where SkyTools said it should be. Even in heavily
light polluted skies (limiting naked eye magnitude of 2.0 - at best).

	 I needed averted vision in the Celestron 7x50's but the comet was
directly
visible in the Orion 15x63 Mini-Giants. At best it appeared to be a
uniformly
illuminated "fuzz ball" with no central brightening at all.

	 On Sunday, 26 January, at about the time the Buccaneers got their
second
defensive touchdown (18:30 CST), I again reacquired the comet. Its'
appearance
in the binoculars basically matched the Friday observation but the coma was
just barely detectable in the 7x50s with direct vision (It may have
brightened
or it could have appeared brighter due to the 1/2 magnitude increase in
transparency over the Friday observation). The defocusing & comparison
method
for magnitude estimation seemed to confirm the SkyTools estimate of mag 4.9
(I
should note that this is the first comet I have had the opportunity to
attempt
these various brightness estimating techniques).

	 When viewed in the 10" Newtonian, the comet was located exactly
where SkyTools
predicted it should be. With a 32mm Sirius Plossel eyepiece (38x), the comet

had a brighter, very round and uniform coma but the 10" scope allowed me to
see
a distinct, "star like" core with direct to moderately averted vision.

	 Following an initial field drawing , and a delay of about 30 minutes
(required
by the need to observe another, non-astronomy related event), I returned to
the
scope and noticed what appeared to be a deviation between the comets
observed
position and my earlier plotted position on the drawing.

	 I made another field drawing at 122x (10mm Sirius Plossel) with the
intent of
actually trying to determine if there was a short term, observable motion of

the comet. Over the course of 45 minutes, I plotted 3 new positions relative
to
the field stars. At about 20:15 clouds moved in and the field was lost.

	 I opened SkyTools and performed a "motion trail" for the log
duration and
nicely confirmed the accuracy of SkyTools based on the "current comets" list

for 19 January. The accuracy and special features of SkyTools allowed me to
note a movement of approximately 5 minutes of arc for this observation
period!

#17

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 5:19 pm
Subject: Re: newbie question

capellasoft

Offline

Hi,

Mau-En Lee wrote:
> so please excuse this aboslutely newbie question...
> but how are you guys finding the coordinates on where
> to find these comets?  is it in cartes du ciel?  i
> tried for a few brief moments to get the coordinates
> off of cartes du ciel, and was unsuccessful... so i
> don't know where/how you guys know where the comets
> are...  thanks in advance for everyone's time!!!

Finder charts and other current information:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html

Orbital elements for various software:
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/SoftwareComets.html

I don't see CDC on the list above but perhaps it uses the MPC format.

Clear skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

#16

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 5:15 pm
Subject: Re: Re: Comets, comets everywhere

capellasoft

Offline

Hi Dave,

davejm28  wrote:
> --- In CometChasing@yahoogroups.com, Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@t...>
> wrote:
>
>
>>C/2001 HT50 (LINEAR-NEAT) is also visible in a 4-inch telescope,
>>observable most of the night from most locations.
>
> Greg,
>
> I took a stab at this comet on Wednesday night (2/6 UT) with the ASH
> 17" classical Cassegrain but saw nothing at the coordinates that I
> obtained from the IAU page.  What were the coordinates for C/2001
> HT50 that night?

For 2003 Feb 6 0h UT I have:

C/2001 HT50 (LINEAR-NEAT)
RA: 07h22m02.4s, Dec: -00°58'25" (2000) in Monoceros
Magnitude: 11.5
Mean Surface Br. 20.3 Mag/arc-sec²
Coma Diameter: 1.1'

It's probably marginal in a 4-inch, but it should have been obvious in
your 17 inch.  I last observed it on January 26 in my 18 inch and I
logged it as "nice, bright and obvious. Irregular shape."

Also, on February 3rd Piotr Guzik reported that it "was really easy
object, brighter than previously", in a 20.3cm (8 inch) scope.

Clear skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

#15

From: Mau-En Lee <mauenlee@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 2:17 pm
Subject: newbie question

mauenlee

Online Now

hi everyone,

i just signed up for the group... seems like you guys
know what you are talking about, and are willing to
help absolute beginners such as myself...  my first
scope is on order too, but my friend (and his 10" dob)
got me interested in this hobby/obsession...

so please excuse this aboslutely newbie question...
but how are you guys finding the coordinates on where
to find these comets?  is it in cartes du ciel?  i
tried for a few brief moments to get the coordinates
off of cartes du ciel, and was unsuccessful... so i
don't know where/how you guys know where the comets
are...  thanks in advance for everyone's time!!!

mau-en


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.
http://mailplus.yahoo.com

#14

From: "davejm28 <djm28@...>" <djm28@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 10:42 am
Subject: Re: Comets, comets everywhere

davejm28

Offline

--- In CometChasing@yahoogroups.com, Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@t...>
wrote:

>
> C/2001 HT50 (LINEAR-NEAT) is also visible in a 4-inch telescope,
> observable most of the night from most locations.

Greg,

I took a stab at this comet on Wednesday night (2/6 UT) with the ASH
17" classical Cassegrain but saw nothing at the coordinates that I
obtained from the IAU page.  What were the coordinates for C/2001
HT50 that night?

Dave Mitsky

#13

From: "davejm28 <djm28@...>" <djm28@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 9:40 am
Subject: C/2002 V1 (NEAT)

davejm28

Offline

I observed C/2002 V1 (NEAT) from ~00:15 to 01:01 UT on Wednesday
evening, 2002/2/5-6, from the ASH Naylor Observatory near Lewisberry,
Pennsylvania.  The VLM was a bit under 5.0 with moonlight and skyglow
from a nearby ski resort as well as from local homes and the cities
of Harrisburg and York.  The seeing was on the poor side.

Comet NEAT V1 was barely visible through my Celestron Noble 8x42
binocular.  A short tail was seen with my Celestron 20x80 binocular
and a 5" f/5 finder scope mounted on the 17" f/15 classical
Cassegrain reflector at the ASH Naylor Observatory.  Through the 17"
Comet NEAT V1 appeared to have a very bright pseudonucleus and a tail
that extended about 20 arcminutes.  The best views were through a
45mm University Optics Ploessl (144x) and a 40mm U.O. MK-70 (162x).
Other magnifications used were 118 and 202x.  I was able to see the
comet's bright core until it was about 2 degrees above the western
horizon.

Dave Mitsky

#12

From: "ralple <ralple@...>" <ralple@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 6:22 am
Subject: Comet/Asteroid Site

ralple

Offline

I thought you all might like looking at this site. This guy is not a
pro. He looks for comets/asteroids that haven't been discovered yet.
He's retired and does this for his hobby.
http://www.sdsmt.edu/space/bo.htm

He is not all that far from me. I haven't been to his observatory.
Have communicated with him on the internet. Seems like a real nice
guy. I may make it over there one weekend when they have a star
party there.


Also....on Arnie Rosner's site. He has some good pics of Comet NEAT.


Ron

#11

From: "ralple <ralple@...>" <ralple@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 6:15 am
Subject: Comet Linear

ralple

Offline

Just to let you know first. I'm become interested in astronomy as
strictly entertainment. My first scope is on order. In the meantime,
I just had to play with the online internet robotic telescope of
Arnie Rosner. I took my very first astrophoto with it. I tried to
develop it to maximize the detail of the galaxies while keeping a
good showing of the comet.
http://www.pbase.com/image/11905438

Ron

#10

From: "Gary W. Kronk" <kronk@...>
Date: Thu Feb 6, 2003 12:31 am
Subject: Comet NEAT

gary_kronk

Offline

Observed comet C/2002 V1 (NEAT) on February 5.03 UT. The magnitude
limit near the comet was about 5.0, because of a little light
pollution, but the sky was extremely transparent and the overhead
magnitude limit was slightly better than 6.

The comet was very stellar looking in my 20x80 binoculars with a
degree of condensation of about 8. There was only a faint-appearing
coma about 6' across and a faint tail extending possibly up to 2
degrees toward a position angle of about 60 degrees. I determined the
total magnitude as 5.1. Knowing the comet was bright, I did not check
the position before going outside, since I roughly knew where it
would be from previous observations. I actually swept over it twice
because of the nearly stellar appearance!

A brief observation with my 33.3-cm reflector revealed a very strong
condensation within the "condensation" seen by the binoculars.

Sincerely,
Gary

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Wed Feb 5, 2003 11:12 pm
Subject: Comet Chasing -- Group Policies

capellasoft

Offline

Comet Chasing Group Policies

The mission of the group is to promote recreational comet observing with
a focus on visual observation.  Let's get more people involved!

(1) Everyone is Welcome

Everyone interested in observing comets is welcome here, no matter their
level of experience.  As this group was specifically created to promote
the hobby, newbies are particularly encouraged to ask questions.
Experienced comet observers are encouraged to answer these questions and
share their experience.

(2) Posting of Observations is Encouraged

The posting observations makes this group an excellent resource for
those who are wondering what they can see in their own telescope.  The
observation format is very informal.  Visual magnitude and coma diameter
estimates are quite welcome, but not necessary.  Please try to avoid
acronyms or abbreviations.  E.g. rather than ML write "magnitude limit"
whenever possible.  Useful observations should include the following
information:

a. The aperture of your instrument (e.g 7x50 binoculars, 4-inch
telescope, etc.)

b. An idea of your observing conditions.  This could be anything from a
naked-eye limiting magnitude to a general idea of how dark your skies
are (e.g. downtown of large city, out in the country with only some
light pollution, etc.)

c. How easily the comet was seen (e.g. Very difficult with averted
vision, big bright and obvious, etc.)

(3) Keep Postings on Topic and of Global Interest

This is a very focused group with members from around the world.
Postings are limited to comet observing only.  CCD observers are welcome
to post here, but please keep your contributions applicable to visual
observation.

Specific prohibitions:

a. Ads for commercial products are not permitted.

b. General announcements of events or meetings that are of local or
regional interest only are not permitted.  Announcements of events that
are of specific interest to comet observers are permitted.

c. Email attachments are not permitted and are automatically removed.
If you wish to post images or files please upload to the Images or Files
section of the group web site.

(4) Always be Kind, Friendly and Respectful

Postings must at all times be respectful of others.  At no time are
personal attacks or arguments of a personal nature acceptable.

(5) Keep Posting Relevant

Please try to keep "me to" type postings to a minimum, and trim all
replies appropriately.  Please consider that there are many group
members and avoid filling mailboxes with conversations between only two
parties.  Such conversations are often best taken to private email.

(6) Software Tools and the Group Founder

As many of you know I am an astronomical software developer.  I did not
create this group to promote my software and will avoid discussion of my
   products here.  Questions or discussion of my software should be
directed to me personally, or to the SkyTools group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SkyTools/

As the group grows I will solicit co-moderators and in time I hope to
turn over the group to one of them, eventually becoming just another
group member.


Resources:

Group website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CometChasing/
Skyhound Comet Chasing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
Comet Observation Home Page: http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/
ICQ/CBAT/MPC: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/CometMags.html
Comets and Meteor Showers: http://comets.amsmeteors.org/
BAA Comet Section: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds/


Thanks,
Greg Crinklaw
Comet Chasing Founder and Moderator

From: "Dave Adalian" <dpalta@...>
Date: Wed Feb 5, 2003 8:34 pm
Subject: Central California Star Party

lord_chiggy

Offline

Saturn and Jupiter will be at their best this Friday, Feb. 7, for the Tulare
Astronomical Association's February Star Party.  Observations at the Arthur
Purcell Observatory, 2.1 miles west of Highway 99 on Avenue 184 in Tulare, CA,
will begin at dusk as the moon presents a 36.5 percent illuminated disk.  Hope
to see you--and your telescope if you've got one--there.  For additional
information, email me directly.

Clear skies!

-- Dave

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From: "gfphoto2003 <gfphoto1@...>" <gfphoto1@...>
Date: Wed Feb 5, 2003 9:10 pm
Subject: Re: Comets, comets everywhere

gfphoto2003

Offline

--- In CometChasing@yahoogroups.com, Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@t...>
wrote:
>>There are currently five comets visible in a four
> inch telescope!

Greg,

Sounds like a good idea for a group!

I'm a beginner in astronomy - when you say a 4" scope, or a "small"
scope, are you referring to reflectors?

I have an 80mm f9 refractor. How do your scope size suggestions work
for this?

I'm looking forward to viewing comets since Hale-Bopp was so stunning
even with our old crummy binocs. But had no luck with locating K-F -
of course it wasn't much fun getting up and out in 10 - 15 deg (F)
weather at 4:30 AM...

Is your initial software package available as a straight download?

Thank you,

Gary Fuchs

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Wed Feb 5, 2003 6:42 pm
Subject: Re: Now We Can Form a Jury

capellasoft

Offline

Hi Dave,

Welcome!

Dave Adalian wrote:
  > Yahoo Groups! tells me I'm member No. 12 to the new group.  This
  > should be fun, and a lot less formal than the other Comet and Meteor
  > group I belong to.

I certainly hope so!

  > I've been chasing C/2001 RX14 the last three nights, or at least I
  > thought I was.  As it turns out, the first night I wasn't.  In the
  > spot Cartes du Ciel said I should look, I found a faint elongated
  > fuzzy at the end of a triangle of 8th magnitude stars.  I made a
  > sketch, but I'm ashamed to say it was so poor that I couldn't use it
  > as a comparison the next night at a darker site.  This time I made a
  > much more detailed sketch and it included an elongated brightness
  > next to a 6th magnitude star I hadn't noticed the night before from
  > my backyard.  My third look, this time with a decent sketch I could
  > use for comparison, showed the glow near the triangle of stars hadn't
  > moved.  But the elongated brightness, aka C/2001 RX14, had.  It was
  > now farther from the star and was showing a wide tail and appeared
  > brighter because it was no longer being outshone.

It's funny, I recently had a very similar experience.  I immediately
came across a nice fuzzy object and at first mistook it for the comet.
But it wasn't at the right place according to my charts.  So I looked a
little harder in the right place, and sure enough there was another
little fuzzball.

Clear skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Wed Feb 5, 2003 6:25 pm
Subject: Re: Re: Comets, comets everywhere

capellasoft

Offline

Hi Carol,

Carol Lakomiak  wrote:
> Hi Greg, sure wish I had your NM skies. <g>

Well, don't wish too hard because it's snowing at the moment!

> C/2002 V1 sure is a beauty... nice tail, and a great binocular
> object. Am looking forward to revisiting C/2002 X5 again.. it was
> really different seeing it in the LASCO C3 images.
> I tried Brewington with my 8" SCT but just couldn't pull it in... our
> transparency here [north central WI] has been absolutely murky as of
> late.. very strange compared to other winters. They do clear up a
> bit, but by then it's bitterly cold, so I haven't had too much of a
> chance with the others, but I'll give them a try asap.

I haven't seen Brewington yet either, although I did meet Howard for the
first time a few weeks ago, so I guess that counts for something!

Clear skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

From: "Dave Adalian" <dpalta@...>
Date: Wed Feb 5, 2003 8:11 am
Subject: Now We Can Form a Jury

lord_chiggy

Offline

Yahoo Groups! tells me I'm member No. 12 to the new group.  This should be fun,
and a lot less formal than the other Comet and Meteor group I belong to.

I've been chasing C/2001 RX14 the last three nights, or at least I thought I
was.  As it turns out, the first night I wasn't.  In the spot Cartes du Ciel
said I should look, I found a faint elongated fuzzy at the end of a triangle of
8th magnitude stars.  I made a sketch, but I'm ashamed to say it was so poor
that I couldn't use it as a comparison the next night at a darker site.  This
time I made a much more detailed sketch and it included an elongated brightness
next to a 6th magnitude star I hadn't noticed the night before from my backyard.
My third look, this time with a decent sketch I could use for comparison, showed
the glow near the triangle of stars hadn't moved.  But the elongated brightness,
aka C/2001 RX14, had.  It was now farther from the star and was showing a wide
tail and appeared brighter because it was no longer being outshone.

I think the other object is NGC 4051, a magnitude 10 galaxy that was about the
right size at 5"x4".

Last night, I also took my daughter to a nearby park, intending to show her
C/2002 V1 in binoculars.  Once I found it myself I realized there was no way she
would be able to see it with hand-held binoculars.  Fortunately, she was content
to take a good look at the thin crescent moon.  I'm looking forward to taking a
look at both comets again this Friday at our club's star party.

Clear skies!

-- Dave

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From: "Carol Lakomiak <strgzr52@...>" <strgzr52@...>
Date: Wed Feb 5, 2003 3:40 am
Subject: Re: Comets, comets everywhere

strgzr52

Offline

Hi Greg, sure wish I had your NM skies. <g>

C/2002 V1 sure is a beauty... nice tail, and a great binocular
object. Am looking forward to revisiting C/2002 X5 again.. it was
really different seeing it in the LASCO C3 images.
I tried Brewington with my 8" SCT but just couldn't pull it in... our
transparency here [north central WI] has been absolutely murky as of
late.. very strange compared to other winters. They do clear up a
bit, but by then it's bitterly cold, so I haven't had too much of a
chance with the others, but I'll give them a try asap.
:-)
Carol

--- In CometChasing@yahoogroups.com, Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@t...>
wrote:
> No month in recent memory has had so much to offer the comet
observer
> as this February.  There are currently five comets visible in a
four
> inch telescope!
>
> 2002 V1 (NEAT) is currently a very nice evening binocular object.
In
> the coming days it will brighten and should become easily visible
to the
> unaided eye.  Some observers have already reported seeing it naked
eye.
>
> C/2002 Y1 (Juels-Holvorcem)is a nice object for binoculars and
small
> telescopes high in the morning sky.
>
> C/2002 X5 (Kudo-Fujikawa) has passed the Sun and will return later
this
> month in the evening sky.  At that time it too should be a nice
object
> for binoculars and small telescopes.
>
> C/2001 RX14 (LINEAR) is visible in a 4-inch telescope high in the
sky
> during the late evening.
>
> C/2001 HT50 (LINEAR-NEAT) is also visible in a 4-inch telescope,
> observable most of the night from most locations.
>
> 154P (Brewington) is visible in the evening sky in a 6-inch
telescope.
>
> For much more information including finder charts see:
> http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
>
> New Comet Chasing group: There may never be a better month to start
> adding telescopic comets to your regular observing schedule.  I
have
> recently created a new Yahoo discussion group dedicated to
recreational
> comet observing.  It is my hope that this group will serve as a
resource
> for those who wish to add a little spice to their observing by
including
> telescopic comets.  Visit
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CometChasing/>
> to join.
>
> Clear skies,
> Greg
> --
> Greg Crinklaw
> Astronomical Software Developer
> Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
>
> SkyTools Software for the Observer:
> http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
>
> Skyhound Observing Pages:
> http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Tue Feb 4, 2003 9:51 pm
Subject: Comets, comets everywhere

capellasoft

Offline

No month in recent memory has had so much to offer the comet observer
as this February.  There are currently five comets visible in a four
inch telescope!

2002 V1 (NEAT) is currently a very nice evening binocular object.  In
the coming days it will brighten and should become easily visible to the
unaided eye.  Some observers have already reported seeing it naked eye.

C/2002 Y1 (Juels-Holvorcem)is a nice object for binoculars and small
telescopes high in the morning sky.

C/2002 X5 (Kudo-Fujikawa) has passed the Sun and will return later this
month in the evening sky.  At that time it too should be a nice object
for binoculars and small telescopes.

C/2001 RX14 (LINEAR) is visible in a 4-inch telescope high in the sky
during the late evening.

C/2001 HT50 (LINEAR-NEAT) is also visible in a 4-inch telescope,
observable most of the night from most locations.

154P (Brewington) is visible in the evening sky in a 6-inch telescope.

For much more information including finder charts see:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html

New Comet Chasing group: There may never be a better month to start
adding telescopic comets to your regular observing schedule.  I have
recently created a new Yahoo discussion group dedicated to recreational
comet observing.  It is my hope that this group will serve as a resource
for those who wish to add a little spice to their observing by including
telescopic comets.  Visit <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CometChasing/>
to join.

Clear skies,
Greg
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

From: Greg Crinklaw <crinklaws@...>
Date: Tue Feb 4, 2003 6:28 am
Subject: Welcome to Comet Chasing

capellasoft

Offline

Many observers aren't aware that there are often as many as a dozen
comets within the reach of amateur instruments on any given night.  In
the past, only a very few had access to the timely information necessary
to observe these comets.  That changed in the early 1990's with the
advent of modern computer software combined with access to the Internet.
These things put many comets within reach of amateur astronomers for
the first time.  But it wasn't until recent years that current magnitude
and coma diameter observations became widely available.  Today, with
access to reliable orbits, magnitudes, and coma diameters, we are poised
for a revolution of sorts.  The time for widespread recreational comet
observing has come!

Unlike comet hunters we recreational observers don't spend hours
searching for new discoveries.  Many of us don't even make magnitude and
diameter estimates.  We simply hunt down known comets for the sheer
enjoyment of it.  I call this hobby comet chasing.

Like many others I have been observing comets as if they were moving
deep sky objects for many years now.  But unlike deep sky objects comets
move appreciably from night to night and can alter their appearance
suddenly.  Take comet 2002 O4 (Hoenig) for instance.  One night recently
this comet simply went poof.  It faded so rapidly that within hours it
was no longer observable visually.  Like snowflakes no two comets are
alike, and they can change quickly.  A host of observations are
possible:  Has it brightened or faded suddenly?  Grown or shrunk?  Is a
tail visible? Is it diffuse or does it have a bright center?

I have created this group as a means of encouraging more observers to
include comets in their nightly plans.  It is my hope that in time it
will become a home for comet observers of all levels of experience; a
community where information, techniques and observations are shared.

For those who are new to comet chasing you may find my web site useful.
Each month it lists the comets currently visible, including finder
charts for those who don't have access to software.

Have a look at: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html

Clear skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html