[AZ-Observing] Re: When can we expect to "SEE" Comet ISON

  • From: Joe Larkin <joeclarkin@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:12:32 -0800 (PST)

At this magnitude it should already be visible under some circumstances to some 
observers.
Halley was first seen during its last trip in to the inner solar system when it 
was magnitude 19.1 by Steven J. O'meara with a 24" telescope in Hawaii. 

It was seen by many more people at Stellafane in August 1985 when it was 
magnitude 14.1 in a 24" scope. 

Here's an article about the Stellafane sightings that claims that the 5th 
through 35th or so visual observers saw it there:

http://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/20/science/telescope-builders-see-halley-s-comet-from-vermont-hiiltop.html


I wasn't in the first ten observers, but I was in that group. It was dim but 
not very difficult. I'm not sure that I really believe that only 4 people had 
seen it before then. The world was much less connected and reporting an 
observation was harder than sending an email or posting on a web page. 

Also, Stellafane wasn't very dark even back then. It was North-East Coast dark 
but nothing extraordinary. An hour drive out of Phoenix gives better skies. 

A better question might be when will it be worth looking at? When will it be 
non-stellar? When will it show a tail? When will it be a small telescope object 
with interesting features? Binocular object or naked-eye?

Joe Larkin


________________________________
 From: David M. Douglass <dmdouglass@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 9:00 PM
Subject: [AZ-Observing] When can we expect to "SEE" Comet ISON
 
So…. Here is a question for our techno gurus.
This question is also being posted to the EVACONLINE group as well.

I am working on a “table” of times and locations to view Comet 2012 S1 [
ISON ].
The table is no problem. I have all of the currently projected locations,
and times, and brightness figures (Magnitudes).  Currently (according to
numbers I have from Software Bisque’s TheSkyX Pro), ISON is at a Mag 16
(more or less). And, although I cannot “see” it through the eyepiece of my
various telescopes, I can attach a camera, and doing long exposures (I use 2
min), I can image it.

The question then for here is this. At what Magnitude should I be able to
see it ?

I thought this might be a spec. But I cannot find it. 
I think I understand. One of the problems would have to be, how light is it
where you are at doing to observing. In the city, there is always sky glow,
which knocks down the ability to see very faint objects.

But what if we were in a very dark place. No sky glow. Perfectly dark
conditions. Even the Milky Way was dark! (How is that for dark ??).  How
faint of an object would you be able to physically see through an eye-piece?

The issue for my “table” is when you can “see” the comet. In my case, I 
can
“see” it now! 
But…… I do it with my camera. 
Now I am not trying to start a “visual observation” vs “imageing” type 
of
observation argument.
Simply stated…. A lot (if not most) of our members do not have cameras.
So….. when should they expect to be able to “see” the comet.
I know that “type of telescope”, aperature, focal  length, and eye pieces
are all factors.
Is there a generally accepted “visible” magnitude?

If there is, I am thinking that it should be something around a Mag 11 or
12. Most galaxies are there, and most galaxies show up a “faint fuzzies”,
sometimes nothing more than a “smudge”.

OK….   I am all ears. And if you have something that would be useful here,
then post your reply to the group, rather than individual. In other words,
reply to    evac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks.


David M. Douglass
dmdouglass@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (secondary)
david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (main)
Cell  (602) 908-9092

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