[AZ-Observing] Re: Fw:Comet Tempel
- From: "Sky Watcher" <telescope@xxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 06:42:09 -0700
We were up in the Payson area (about 17 miles east) on Manday (6/27)
doing a program for some scouts and the comet was visible as a very,
very faint fuzz in my 80 mm finder, but clearly visible in my C11 with a
30mm eyepiece....even the scouts and their parents were able to identify
it. The key was a very clear, dark sky. From the Glendale area in my
12.5 inch dob I still have not seen it.
Tony LaConte
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Randy Peterson
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 6:15 AM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Fw:Comet Tempel
Jeff, I agree! This comet is very illusive! The couple of times I have
seen it was when I put in the RA and Dec in my go-to scope and studied
the
field till I found it. There doesn't seem to be much of a tail for easy
identification. At the GCSP, I forgot to print out a finder map for
each
night. I knew the constellation it was in, but panning the
constellation
left me empty-handed.
I am planning to go to a relatively dark sky site by AZ City that night.
Hopefully it will be readily visible from there.
I have read articles that say the comet will be about 8th magnitude at
the
time of impact. Looks to me like it is still close to 10th magnitude
the few
times I have seen it. I also keep reading articles about how it may
brighten to naked-eye visibility when impact occurs. I'll be totally
amazed
if that happens. As faint as it is now, I'm sure it will brighten upon
impact, but I'll bet a scope or good binoculars will be needed to see
anything even after impact. Several non-astronomers I have talked to
recently are under the belief that they will be able to stare without
optical aid at the SW sky after impact and be able to see something
shining
in the sky. This is a result of newspaper articles they have read.
Don't
think so.
Good observing!
Randy Peterson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Hopkins" <phxjeff@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 11:30 PM
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: An 80 degree day?/Comet Tempel
>I was out visually observing tonight between 10 - 11 PM MST trying to
>find comet Tempel. The sky was fairly dark and clear on the west side
>of Phoenix. Much better than a few nights ago.In fact better than I
>have seen it n a long time. I know I was looking right at the comet,
>but could not see it. I tried a 40mm eyepiece with my C-8 plus a 6.3
>focal reducer and Orion Sky Glow filter. I also tried various
>combinations and without anything other than the eyepiece. I also
>tried a 28 mm eyepiece. No luck. Just dark sky with some faint stars.
>
> To give a comparison of the sky, M57, while nearly directly overhead,
> was actually bright. Unless the comet brightens significantly, I do
> not think it will be seen from the Phoenix area. I believe true dark
> skies wil be needed to see anything of the deep impact event Sunday
> night.
>
> Jeff
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