Attention comet watchers!!

[Cowperson]

The brightest comet in 40 years is visible tonight as it loops around the sun . . . . interesting picture at this link was taken from Cremona, Alberta:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,243265,00.html

Other links:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070109.html

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/0701..._mcnaught.html

Cowperson

[Bobblehead]

Here are a bunch more photos at Sky & Telescope

The Interactive Sky Chart on that site is amazing.

[Vulcan]

If this is brighter than that comet a few years ago,I thought that was spectacular, this should be good. Can't remember it's name but a sect did a mass suicide.

[troutman]

The Calgary Science Center has public access to the telescope Friday nights.

http://www.calgaryscience.ca/schedules/stargazing.php

FREE!
Every clear Friday night from November 3, 2006 through to March 9, 2007, resident astronomer Alan Dyer leads visitors through the spectacular night sky.
Weather permitting (meaning clear skies)

Friday Night Stargazing Hours:
From Friday, November 3, 2006 to March 9, 2006: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Should be clear tonight:

http://weather.canoe.ca/Weather/CityCalgaryAB.html

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

If this is brighter than that comet a few years ago,I thought that was spectacular, this should be good. Can't remember it's name but a sect did a mass suicide.

Are you thinking of Hale-Bopp? (Or something along those lines?)

Yeah, that was 10 years ago- and it was quite bright; awesome sight.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Are you thinking of Hale-Bopp? (Or something along those lines?)

Yeah, that was 10 years ago- and it was quite bright; awesome sight.

Thats what I thought of as well. All the men were castrated and other fun stuff like that! Yippee!

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Are you thinking of Hale-Bopp? (Or something along those lines?)

Yeah, that was 10 years ago- and it was quite bright; awesome sight.

That's the one, it was visible in the northern skies for maybe a week. My best memory of it was driving up the Shaganappi Tr from Bowness Rd in the NW and it was sitting over the hill.

[West Karma]

nm

[Cube Inmate]

McNaught is getting bright, but more and more washed out by the twilight every night as it gets closer to the sun. I took this shot as it set over broadcast hill last night (Jan 12); I personally thought it was better on the 11th. (I know it's nothing compared with some of the more impressive shots linked, but at least it's a personal memory of the thing.)

[Wormius]

Bumping an old thread, but... cool comet to appear this weekend over the northern hemisphere.

http://www.sen.com/news/naked-eye-co...ern-skies.html

Now PANSTARRS is heading into the Northern Hemisphere. By March 8, it was viewable for those with a totally unobstructed view of the western horizon for about 15 minutes after twilight. On March 10, it will make its closest approach to the sun, about 28 million miles (45 million kilometers) away.

As it continues across the sky, the comet may get lost in the Sun's glare but March 12 and 13 could provide the best viewing opportunity, as it will move further from the Sun and should be easier to spot in the night sky. It could be as bright as the stars in the Big Dipper and it could get even brighter. The comet will then begin to fade away slowly, becoming difficult to view (even with binoculars or small telescopes) by the month's end. The comet will appear as a bright point of light with its diffuse tail pointing nearly straight up from the horizon like an exclamation mark.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Now PANSTARRS is heading into the Northern Hemisphere. By March 8, it was viewable for those with a totally unobstructed view of the western horizon for about 15 minutes after twilight.

[To Be Quite Honest]

If you want an inexpensive but powerful telescope for this event I have one for $50.00.

/ sale troll

[boosterjuice]

I packed the kids up last night and headed out of the city try and see panSTARRS comet and do some star gazing. It was a clear night EXCEPT the western horizon where panSTARRS is supposedly visible. We didn't see anything. I might try again tonight if it looks clear in the west.

[troutman]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astro...d_march_8.html

Any time after about March 10 will be good for spotting it, but the best date is Mar. 12, when the very thin crescent new Moon will be close by. That will make the comet easier to find, since the Moon is bigger and more obvious. But even then, binoculars are your friend. A couple of weeks ago I was trying to find the planet Mercury in the twilight gloaming, and it was tough until it got dark enough… and Mercury is much brighter than the comet.


Gabe Brammer took this amazing photo showing Pan-STARRS (arrowed, on the right), a meteor (middle) and aonther comet, Lemmon (left). I had to crop this image to make the comets visible; click it to see it in higher resolution. It's stunning.

[annasuave]

Any sightings tonight?

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by annasuave

Any sightings tonight?

Everyone's too busy watching the game, complaining, and making up Iginla trades.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Everyone's too busy watching the game, complaining, and making up Iginla trades.

I'll take one for the team and walk outside...

[Robbob]

there was a ton of clouds on the horizon when I took a peek

[Wormius]

Lots of airplanes. And Jupiter being all Jupitery, like usual.

[Wormius]

Perfect night. Can't wait to find a nice dark place.