FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Comet McNaught 1/12

[Frank Kraljic <fjkraljic@xxxxxxx>]

After reading numerous posts, I drove to east Scottsdale for a clear  
view of the comet this evening over the city.  Just after 6pm, the  
comet's nucleus and >1 degree tail was surprisingly naked eye  
visible.  With 20x100 binoculars, the tail had a smooth gradient in  
brightness extending beyond 1 degree, but slghtly brighter along its  
sides.  The coma was very lumonous and appeared in the shape of a  
tight comma arcing toward the horizon and into the tail.  I don't  
know if this was my imagination, the astigmatism in my eyes, or a  
legitimate feature.  I quickly snapped a couple haphazard shots with  
a Canon 20D at 300mm as the comet neared the horizon.  I posted the  
best picture at: http://www.pbase.com/solomonshort/image/72946750

-FRANK

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