jeisfeldt
|
|
12/31/2016 11:20 AM
|
|
I will try to look for it.
Dave
---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Visual Observing" <visual-astronomy@centexastronomy.org>
To: "jde209@netzero.net" <jde209@netzero.net>
Subject: 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova <<$163056843979$>>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2016 18:05:30 -0600
If we get good skies as forecast for New Year's Eve, Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova will be an easy target in the SW sky an hour after sunset. Just look 3 degrees or about three finger widths at arms length to the left of a very young Moon. The comet is now approx. 7th magnitude, which should make it an easily visible with binoculars or a small scope.
Attached is a hurry-up image I took last night at 6:54 pm approx. 11 degrees above the SW horizon just before the clouds covered it up three minutes later.
I wish everyone good comet hunting, and a very blessed New Year!
Johnny
Attachment(s):
File: 05HMP_sm.jpg (154.3 KB) -- Address: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/901132/attach/1630568_0_05HMP_sm.jpg
|
|
|
|
Johnny
|
|
12/31/2016 10:05 AM
|
Yes, I had to wait until it cleared some branches. Also, lots of thin cirrus clouds around. The image was just a 30 sec. exp. at 1600 iso with my Canon DSLR and a 75-300mm tele. lens set at 150mm riding piggyback on the 12.5". I was just about to zoom in and go for some longer exposures when the clouds covered it up.
Some additional info about this comet; it is at perihelion tonight and will start to become lost in the Sun's glare for most of Jan. But, it is closest to Earth (7.4 million miles) on Feb. 11. I believe the best time to start observing will be in late Jan thru Feb. 9th during the predawn hours between 4-6 am. On Feb. 9th. At that time, the comet will rise around 2 am and will be over 35 degrees above the eastern horizon by 5 am. and the Moon will be setting by 6. After the 9th the Moon will start to be a problem, but it should be far enough away on the 11th, when the comet is predicted to be at 6th mag or brighter, for anyone to see it well.
You can go to this site to get the latest coords and position.
https://theskylive.com/45p-info
-----Original Message-----
From: "Visual Observing" <visual-astronomy@centexastronomy.org>
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2016 7:32pm
To: "johnnyb@reagan.com" <johnnyb@reagan.com>
Subject: re: 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova <<$163059471196$>>
Very good Johnny, Looks like you were looking through some tree branches.
Aubrey
-----Original Message-----
From: mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com [mailto:mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com] On Behalf Of Visual Observing
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2016 6:06 PM
To: abrickhouse1@att.net
Subject: 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova <<$163056843979$>>
If we get good skies as forecast for New Year's Eve, Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova will be an easy target in the SW sky an hour after sunset. Just look 3 degrees or about three finger widths at arms length to the left of a very young Moon. The comet is now approx. 7th magnitude, which should make it an easily visible with binoculars or a small scope.
Attached is a hurry-up image I took last night at 6:54 pm approx. 11 degrees above the SW horizon just before the clouds covered it up three minutes later.
I wish everyone good comet hunting, and a very blessed New Year!
Johnny
Attachment(s):
File: 05HMP_sm.jpg (154.3 KB) -- Address: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/901132/attach/1630568_0_05HMP_sm.jpg
|
|
|
|
Willie
|
|
12/30/2016 9:30 PM
|
Nice job, Johnny. Thanks for the heads up.
Willie
|
|
|
|
abrickhouse
|
|
12/30/2016 7:24 PM
|
|
Very good Johnny, Looks like you were looking through some tree branches.
Aubrey
-----Original Message-----
From: mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com [mailto:mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com] On Behalf Of Visual Observing
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2016 6:06 PM
To: abrickhouse1@att.net
Subject: 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova <<$163056843979$>>
If we get good skies as forecast for New Year's Eve, Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova will be an easy target in the SW sky an hour after sunset. Just look 3 degrees or about three finger widths at arms length to the left of a very young Moon. The comet is now approx. 7th magnitude, which should make it an easily visible with binoculars or a small scope.
Attached is a hurry-up image I took last night at 6:54 pm approx. 11 degrees above the SW horizon just before the clouds covered it up three minutes later.
I wish everyone good comet hunting, and a very blessed New Year!
Johnny
Attachment(s):
File: 05HMP_sm.jpg (154.3 KB) -- Address: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/901132/attach/1630568_0_05HMP_sm.jpg
|
|
|
|
Johnny
|
|
12/30/2016 6:05 PM
|
|
If we get good skies as forecast for New Year's Eve, Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova will be an easy target in the SW sky an hour after sunset. Just look 3 degrees or about three finger widths at arms length to the left of a very young Moon. The comet is now approx. 7th magnitude, which should make it an easily visible with binoculars or a small scope.
Attached is a hurry-up image I took last night at 6:54 pm approx. 11 degrees above the SW horizon just before the clouds covered it up three minutes later.
I wish everyone good comet hunting, and a very blessed New Year!
Johnny
|
|
|
|