[meteorite-list] Brightest Comet in 30 Years: Comet C/2006 P1(McNaught)

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:47:57 -0600
Message-ID: <004301c734e7$d95514f0$b421e146_at_ATARIENGINE>

Hi, List,

    I posted this following about Comet McNaught
last night after I got back from my first look at it,
but it disappeared into the temporary black hole the
List was transiting and never appeared on the other
side.
    Let's try it again. I added a few comments.

---------------------------------------------------------------

    Comet McNaught is very bright, very
visible, but very poorly placed to be seen
easily. It is extremely low on the horizon
by the time it can be seen. Because it is so
low it can only be seen for another 2-3 days
in the evening sky [from the northern
hemisphere].

    I got a look at it the first time just this
evening. Right now, it's trailing the Sun,
getting closer and closer to the Sun, until
Jan. 12 when it will race around it at only
half the distance of Mercury. The comet's
orbit isn't in the flat plane of the solar
system; it coming in from "above" (north)
of the system and will go out "below"
(south), In fact the plane of its orbit is
turned almost at right angles to the plane
of the solar system. Here's how the orbit
looks:
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/db_shm?des=2006+P1

   So, basically, locating it's not a problem. Find
a place where you can see ALL the way down to
the western horizon. Wait till after the Sun sets
The first thing you will see is Venus, bright as
a spotlight. As it gets darker, look to the right
of Venus and down, immediately north of the
spot where the Sun has set. As it gets darker,
you should spot the comet. Binoculars will help
if the horizon is hazy. My horizon was so hazy
that it never was "naked-eye" visible [to me at
least], but it showed up in small (7x35) binoculars
wonderfully. By the time it's dark enough to see
the comet it will be less than five degrees above the
horizon, most likely.

    Of course, this all assumes good weather, clear
skies, no clouds, but it's getting so bright so fast
that even haze doesn't hide it. Here's a good sky
chart:
http://skytonight.com/observing/highlights/5089276.html

    It's really LOW in the sky... If this puppy were
up at the top of the sky, people would stand and
gawk, like they say, but you've got hunt it down.

    The professionals are cautious about the tail of
the comet being visible, but tonight the tail seemed
brighter than the head of the comet. That could just
be because the head was deeper in the haze. But I
could see 2 degrees or more of tail even with all
that haze.

    [As you can tell from the tone of the spaceweather
piece, they're getting more enthusiastic by the day
as this comet puts on a better and better show. In
particular, the tail of the comet seems to be especially
bright, even brighter than the head/coma, or it did to
me last night.]

    Paradoxically, it will get brighter each night up
through Jan. 12th, but it will be closer to the Sun
each night and the viewing time will be shorter and
the comet lower in the sky.

    It's worth a look. Probably the biggest carboneous
chondrite you'll see for years, and it's headed AWAY
from eBay.


Sterling K. Webb
---------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Baalke" <baalke at zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>
To: "Meteorite Mailing List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 12:15 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Brightest Comet in 30 Years: Comet C/2006
P1(McNaught)


>
>
> Space Weather News for Jan. 10, 2007
> http://spaceweather.com
>
> Comet McNaught has continued to brighten as it approaches
> the sun and it is now the brightest comet in 30 years.
> For observers in the northern Hemisphere, tonight is
> probably the best time to see it: Go outside this
> evening and face the sunset. A clear view of the
> western horizon is essential, because the comet hangs
> very low. As the twilight fades to black, it should
> become visible to the naked eye. Observers say it's a
> fantastic sight through binoculars.
>
> In the days ahead, Comet McNaught will pass the sun and
> emerge in good position for southern hemisphere viewing
> later this month. Meanwhile, solar heating will
> continue to puff up the comet, causing it to brighten
> even more. It could become one of the brightest comets
> in centuries, visible even in daylit skies.
>
> Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and updates.
>
>
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>
Received on Wed 10 Jan 2007 01:47:57 PM PST