FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Comet NEAT observation from Az

["Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>]

Howdy all;
I observed Comet NEAT from a location about 50 miles from metropolitan Phoenix 
(Flatiron site) on Thursday evening.  The sky was clear, I rated the 
transparency at 6/10.  By 8:20 MST I could easily see the comet naked eye and 
once it got good and dark I estimated its brightness at 3.5 magnitude, about 
the same as the Andromeda Galaxy, but somewhat smaller to unaided vision.

Using my 8X42 binoculars provides a great view with open clusters M 46 and M 47 
in the same field of view.  The tail is obvious and 3 degrees long.  There is a 
bright core and the entire coma is a lovely aqua color.  The field has several 
dark lanes in the Puppis Milky Way that really set off the comet.  Also, there 
is a very nice orange star about one degree north of the comet head.

Moving up to my new 25X100 binoculars has the comet really fill the field of 
view.  The beautiful blue-green color is easier to see and the core is really 
bright.  There is a bright, straight tail that is easily seen for about 2 
degrees.  Another 2 degrees of tail can be added with averted vision.  Another 
note about averted vision, it adds width to the tail.  If I look straight at 
the comet, the central bright "spike" ion tail stands out.  When I look away, 
the tail gets immediately wider and the lower surface brightness fan tail 
appears.  I have never seen this effect while viewing a comet before.  The 
"Blinking Comet"?

I enjoyed both views with the wide field and high power binoculars.  This is a 
very nice comet, bright enough to be worth the trip.  I did try some photos, I 
will get them from the developer tomorrow and then I can see if I had a really 
good time;-)

Clear Skies to us all;
Steve Coe

Author "Deep Sky Observing--The Astronomical Tourist"
Saguaro Astronomy Club website
www.saguaroastro.org
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