[AZ-Observing] Re: McNaught synchronic bands from Flagstaff

Synchronic Band observation Saturday, January 20, 2007.

After analyzing various recent photos of the comet from the southern  
hemisphere, I printed out a star chart, and marked the area in Piscis  
Austrinus where the most northern segments of the tail fragments were  
last imaged. I printed out a couple more sheets to take with me for  
sketches, and headed north of town to escape the stubborn clouds.  
After a 30 mile drive to Wupatki National Monument, I entered the  
park and drove in search of a parking spot with a good view of the  
western horizon. About 4 miles down the empty park road, I was  
surprised--but then again maybe not _too_ surprised--to find Brent  
Archinal parked along the side of the road with his tripod and camera  
set up. Whaddaya know! So I set up next to him and waited for  
twilight to darken while enjoying a beautiful view of Venus and the  
crescent Moon setting together.

By about 6:50 PM with the sun about 14 degrees below the horizon, and  
the head of the comet 19 degrees below, a bright spoke began to show  
itself midway between Fomalhaut and Venus. It was amazingly long-- 
about 20 - 25 degrees from the horizon up toward Phi Aquarii. As the  
sky darkened more, and the Zodiacal Light became very prominent, more  
bands began to appear in a fan running from Piscis Austrinus through  
much of Aquarius. I finished shooting several photos at 7:05 PM when  
my batteries ran out. (I'm all about great planning.) I then spent  
the next half hour sketching every bit I could detect, which turned  
out to be a very good investment. My photos didn't turn out well at  
all, and the sketches showed much more detail than the best shot. The  
sketches and photo can be seen here:

http://www.perezmedia.net/beltofvenus/archives/000638.html

It was a real treat to see another facet of this amazing comet. It  
was very subtle, but not something I ever imagined I'd witness.

Jeremy
http://beltofvenus.perezmedia.net

On Jan 18, 2007, at 8:19 PM, Brian Skiff wrote:

>      Peter Collins observed the Comet McNaught synchronic bands
> this evening from someplace on Observatory Mesa west of the Lowell
> Mars Hill campus.  He reports the rays were brighter than  the
> zodiacal light, and thus quite easy to see.  Did anyone else
> catch this?
>
> \Brian
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