The Great Christmas Comet of 2011, 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) |
The Great Christmas Comet of 2011, 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) |
Guest_Sunspot_* |
Dec 2 2011, 09:59 PM
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Guests |
http://sungrazer.nrl.navy.mil/index.php?p=.../birthday_comet
Possible very bright sungrazing comet coming mid December - Comet Lovejoy C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) Information in the link above. |
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Jan 2 2012, 03:10 PM
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 61 Joined: 20-March 10 From: Western Australia Member No.: 5275 |
Arrgh, here I am, in South Western Australia, and Comet Lovejoy looks like it is going to be the comet I never saw. On the nights that may have delivered a good view of the comet, I have been at work, in a bright, 'night sky unfriendly' refinery, where only Jupiter and the brightest of stars dare peek through the glare. Days off, it's been cloud, or high level mist.
But team, I still remember my introduction to Comet Hyakutake. Myself and two mates, giving a home made, 8" f7 Newtonian its first light, in a dark, remote paddock. We knew the comet was coming; for the previous two nights, I'd spied 'it' (errm, do we regard comets as having the male or female vernacular?), with 50mm binoculars and saw a nice glowing blob, but no more. This night, we spent our time, calibrating the telescope, checking out the local scenery, LMC, 47 Tuc, Jewel Box, Omega Cent, NGC 4945, Cent A (sorry guys), and by midnight, and after a few cans of light ale, it was time to head home. One last scan of the glorious vista, and I was the first to remark - 'whats that?' I could see what appeared to be a distant search light in the north east. "Ah, that's just the light (pollution) from the Alumina refinery (that is my place of work)", said my fellow. But after a minute, we knew, this was Hyakutake, so close, you could almost hear her (there ya go!). We stayed in the paddock 'till 3am, wishing we had a pair of 7X50's, though, through the telescope, the coma/nucleus appeared like a tiny point of light - the sun was due by 5:40. I've just checked outside, high level cloud Many thanks to UMSF for this absorbing thread. |
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