Comet Tempel 1

Observing from Tierra del Sol, CA (right on the border, about 60 miles
east of San Diego) last night, I saw Comet Tempel 1 (the "deep impact"
comet). It is actually rather large and round, and of quite low surface
brightness. It was an averted-vision object in the 11". Right now the
comet is in the same field as the 12th magnitude galazy NGC 4845 (approx
1/2 deg east and south of the galaxy). The galaxy is also low surface
brightness, long and elliptical, but it is actually easier to see than
the comet, which appears larger than it. If you are able to find that
galaxy, you should be able to see Comet Tempel, if you have at least 10"
or so of aperture and decent dark skies. I had them both in the same
wide-angle field.

With the "deep impact" coming up, if people go looking for that comet
with small scopes, they're probably going to be disappointed. Let's hope
that the impact brightens it considerably, so people who set up to see
it will not be disappointed......


--
Robert Sheaffer - User name "Roberto" at debunker-dot-com
Skeptical to the Max!
Visit the Debunker's Domain - http://www.debunker.com
Resources Debunking All Manner of Bogus Claims
Also: Skepticism / Astronomy / Opera / more

"Robert Sheaffer" wrote in message
news:zdJoe.645$Cr.19@fed1read07...

Observing from Tierra del Sol, CA (right on the border, about 60 miles
east of San Diego) last night, I saw Comet Tempel 1 (the "deep impact"
comet). It is actually rather large and round, and of quite low surface
brightness. It was an averted-vision object in the 11". Right now the
comet is in the same field as the 12th magnitude galazy NGC 4845 (approx
1/2 deg east and south of the galaxy). The galaxy is also low surface
brightness, long and elliptical, but it is actually easier to see than
the comet, which appears larger than it. If you are able to find that
galaxy, you should be able to see Comet Tempel, if you have at least 10"
or so of aperture and decent dark skies. I had them both in the same
wide-angle field.



What magnification is needed?

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing...cle_1522_1.asp

Low power is best. I was using about 75x.

If you're using RTGUI software (www.rtgui.com), there is a Transient
Catalog with positions for Comet Tempel 1. Just load the catalog, and
you can just press "Goto" and have your scope go right to it.

Robert

Mike wrote:


"Robert Sheaffer" wrote in message
news:zdJoe.645$Cr.19@fed1read07...

Observing from Tierra del Sol, CA (right on the border, about 60 miles
east of San Diego) last night, I saw Comet Tempel 1 (the "deep impact"
comet). It is actually rather large and round, and of quite low surface
brightness. It was an averted-vision object in the 11". Right now the
comet is in the same field as the 12th magnitude galazy NGC 4845 (approx
1/2 deg east and south of the galaxy). The galaxy is also low surface
brightness, long and elliptical, but it is actually easier to see than
the comet, which appears larger than it. If you are able to find that
galaxy, you should be able to see Comet Tempel, if you have at least 10"
or so of aperture and decent dark skies. I had them both in the same
wide-angle field.



What magnification is needed?

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing...cle_1522_1.asp



--
Robert Sheaffer - User name "Roberto" at debunker-dot-com
Skeptical to the Max!
Visit the Debunker's Domain - http://www.debunker.com
Resources Debunking All Manner of Bogus Claims
Also: Skepticism / Astronomy / Opera / more

Observing from Tierra del Sol, CA (right on the border, about 60 miles
east of San Diego) last night, I saw Comet Tempel 1 (the "deep impact"
comet). It is actually rather large and round, and of quite low surface
brightness. It was an averted-vision object in the 11". Right now the
comet is in the same field as the 12th magnitude galazy NGC 4845 (approx
1/2 deg east and south of the galaxy). The galaxy is also low surface
brightness, long and elliptical, but it is actually easier to see than
the comet, which appears larger than it. If you are able to find that
galaxy, you should be able to see Comet Tempel, if you have at least 10"
or so of aperture and decent dark skies. I had them both in the same
wide-angle field.


Friday night from the desert south of Desert Center i was just able to
detect comet Tempel through my Tele Vue 76 working at 30x. I tried for
the galaxy as well but was unable to see it.

-Florian
Palm Springs, Calif.

If you're using RTGUI software (www.rtgui.com), there is a Transient
Catalog with positions for Comet Tempel 1. Just load the catalog, and
you can just press "Goto" and have your scope go right to it.

Robert


Thanks and no thanks. My eyes, hands and brain can take me there.

Mike wrote:
Thanks and no thanks. My eyes, hands and brain can take me there.

AFNIE.

Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt

Florian wrote:

Friday night from the desert south of Desert Center i was just able to
detect comet Tempel through my Tele Vue 76 working at 30x. I tried for
the galaxy as well but was unable to see it.

-Florian
Palm Springs, Calif.

Which means that for those who don't have the ideal skies you do, the
comet will be *extremely* difficult to detect.

--
Robert Sheaffer - User name "Roberto" at debunker-dot-com
Skeptical to the Max!
Visit the Debunker's Domain - http://www.debunker.com
Resources Debunking All Manner of Bogus Claims
Also: Skepticism / Astronomy / Opera / more