[AZ-Observing] Re: Comet near the sun
- From: "Wayne (aka Mr. Galaxy)" <mrgalaxy@xxxxxxxx>
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:03:21 GMT
Benson, AZ 85602
hm ph: 520-586-2244 I remember my Mom waking us up to tell us there was a comet
in the sky. It turned out to be Comet Bennett (about 1966-7) and was easily
visible out our dining room window where we sat watching it while eating
breakfast in the dawn light. For some reason, though I was involved with
observing and telescope making at that time, I missed Ikeya-Seki. Mrkos was
slightly before my observing time, which I put at about 1958 when the first
satellites were being seen by people. The best of my early comets was West
(1976?), which I saw from Tucson when I was a student at UofA.
Clear skies,
Wayne (aka Mr. Galaxy)
---------- Original Message ----------
From: L Knauth <Knauth@xxxxxxx>
To: "az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Comet near the sun
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:09:06 -0700
>Comet Ikeya-Seki from 1966. Anybody on this list see that one?
I confess; I'm old and saw it. There was a lot of hoopla about it at the time.
More significant to me was comet Myrkos (1957). I still remember my amazement
looking at in my 6" f/8 reflector because it was the first comet I ever
observed.
Anyone on this list observe one prior to 1957? If not, I am the chief comet
geezer of this august group of observers.
Paul Knauth
________________________________________
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Tom Polakis [tpolakis@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 5:48 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Comet near the sun
So far, nobody has reported a positive visual observation of Comet Lovejoy. I
gave it a try with the 4-inch refractor around 11 a.m., when it was about 2
degrees from the sun, and saw only an uncomfortably bright field. At that time
it is guessed that it was around magnitude -3 and near its peak, since
sungrazers fade when they get closer to the sun than that. Currently (5:45
p.m.) it's behind the sun, and the best guess is that it's not going to emerge
intact on the other side.
If it somehow survives perihelion, the viewing geometry is very unfavorable in
the morning sky, so no repeat performances of the great sungrazer Comet
Ikeya-Seki from 1966. Anybody on this list see that one?
http://www.spacewallpapers.net/wallpapers/albums/Other/normal_Comet%20Ikeya-Seki.jpg
Tom
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