Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum

Severe Weather Discussion => General Weather - all topics not current severe weather. => Topic started by: David Brodrick on 11 January 2007, 02:59:48 PM

Title: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: David Brodrick on 11 January 2007, 02:59:48 PM: I thought many of you would be interested in this:

Comet McNaught, discovered last year by Robert McNaught who some of you no doubt know, is expected to make an appearance as the brightest comet in 40 years on Sunday evening! The comet is expected to be as bright or even brighter than Venus and some of the tail should be visible as well. There is possibly an even better opportunity to see the comet on Monday evening. By Tuesday it will be fading fast.

The comet will only be ~5 degrees from the Sun so you'll need to look for it while it's still twilight. Rob has lots of info about where to look here:
http://msowww.anu.edu.au/~rmn/C2006P1.htm (http://msowww.anu.edu.au/~rmn/C2006P1.htm)

Regards,
Dave
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Paul Graham on 12 January 2007, 12:40:28 PM: I read about this on another forum. I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't seen a comet for a very long time...
-Paul
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Jeff Brislane on 16 January 2007, 03:10:21 PM: I went out tonight to see if I could see it but alas there was a layer of pollution/dust/cloud that obscured the comet so no photos. Damn that means i'll have to wait another 40 years!
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 16 January 2007, 05:25:56 PM: Try Tuesday night Jeff!

I was travelling down here and did you think I remembered about it!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Rhett Blanch on 18 January 2007, 02:11:30 AM: Here are some photos I took last night from Denistone East:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/359786576_d5736ae7f4.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhett/359786576/)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/359786572_81144387c7.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhett/359786572/)
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 18 January 2007, 02:17:37 AM: Hi Rhett,

Yes - that is actually amazing! I have not observed a comet but to see what that is visible with the naked eye even though there is haze is sensational.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: vrondes on 18 January 2007, 03:59:59 AM: Hello Rhett,
Nice captures of the comet from our urban skies. Hopefully you can get some images of the curving tail between now and friday when the head and tail still have decent visible features. Cheers, Con.
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Dave Nelson on 19 January 2007, 01:06:45 AM: hi gang

saw and photo'ed the comet on monday and tues nites, last nite was too cloudy following
the storms in the mountains.

really nice view with naked eye and through 7x50 binoculars

(http://www.sydneystormcity.com/DSCF1011b.jpg)

tues nite 2039 hrs EDT, Fuji S9500, 9mpix, 1 sec, F4.5

cheers
DaveN
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Michael Bath on 19 January 2007, 02:30:34 AM: Thanks for sharing the images of the comet on here - have not been able to see it myself due to persistent cloud early evening here on the North Coast. Just when the cumulus clears mid afternoon along comes the high cloud - grrrrr

regards, Michael
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Matthew Piper on 19 January 2007, 07:58:36 AM: I have been observing Comet McNaught over the last three nights here in Adelaide and have been treated to a fabulous view.

Here are some of the best images I took last night along with some photoshop enhanced versions to bring out the detail in the tail.
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 19 January 2007, 03:59:56 PM: Hi Matthew,

Awesome that you were also able to capture the comet as have others I guess.

I guess there are advantages in living in a city with less cloud and storms:)

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: enak_12 on 19 January 2007, 05:09:13 PM: I finally got a view of the comet. Only thing is I forgot my tripod so I had to use a fast prime so my pictures a fairly heavily croped to get a decent view of it but heres one:

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/cometmcnaught600x406.jpg)
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Michael Bath on 20 January 2007, 02:41:46 AM: Finally got to see it and very impressive !

Some photos of Comet McNaught taken last night between 8.26 and 8.47 pm (09:26z t 09:47z) near Lismore looking to the southwest.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011801.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011801.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011802.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011802.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011803.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011803.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011804.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011804.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011805.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011805.jpg

Taken with a 300mm lens on my Nikon D70. Certainly far more impressive than Comet Halley in 1986 !!!!

Should be visible again tonight if there are no clouds.

Regards, Michael
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Michael Bath on 21 January 2007, 04:16:24 AM: A couple more photos of the comet taken Friday evening - the tail was even more impressive than the previous night.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011901.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011901.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011902.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011902.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011903.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011903.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2007011904.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2007011904.jpg
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 21 January 2007, 04:34:42 AM: Yes, I saw the comet last night with the other guys who attended the dinner.

It was I must say spectacular! With binoculars it was even better - I wonder just how awesome it must be viewed through a telescope!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 21 January 2007, 06:39:27 PM: Hi,

I had intended to take photographs of the comet and I did. Here are a couple:

(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2007/0120jd26.jpg)

(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2007/0120jd28.jpg)

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: enak_12 on 22 January 2007, 04:47:26 PM: Great photos everyone. Some from Sawtell Headland tonight. It was a great scene with the stars, the moon and the comet.

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/mcnaughtmoon2.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/mcnaughtbeach.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/mcnaughtandmoonpano.jpg)
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 23 January 2007, 12:15:51 AM: Awesome to include moon into it. I attempted it but it was only wxing crescent right near sunset - the comet I could not find at the time.

Apparently, the comet is in view several more days?

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: enak_12 on 23 January 2007, 09:30:16 AM: Thanks for your comment Jimmy. I read on wikipedia that it is apparently visible to Feb 9'th, however it is meant to fade rapidly.
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 23 January 2007, 10:00:40 AM: Is it visible in Australia until February? I was acting on second hand information from what would have gathered was a reliable source so I could not be sure.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: enak_12 on 23 January 2007, 11:31:52 AM: I'm not sure if its visible in Australia until February or just other parts of the Southern Hemeisphere. This is what I read on wikipedia: "The comet remains visible to Southern hemisphere observers in both the morning and evening sky, entering the constellation Microscopium on 18 January, but fading rapidly and dropping below 6th magnitude by 9 February. However, observers are encouraged to watch closely, as sungrazing comets often break up shortly after perihelion and flare dramatically. As of 18 January the comet is clearly visible in the Western sky after sunset, near to the horizon. The comet is so bright that part of its tail can even be seen from very dark locations in the Northern hemisphere that are near the equator."
Title: Re: Astronomy events: Comet McNaught - 14th-16th Jan.
Post by: weathergirl on 24 January 2007, 07:24:09 AM: This is just way too cool. I thought I had missed out but I will be checking out the sky tonight!!!