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Comets thread
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| Watsisname | Date: Sunday, 10.03.2013, 08:20 | Message # 61 |
 Galaxy Architect
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| C/2011 L4 is starting to become visible from the northern hemisphere. Anyone able to spot it yet? I'll give it a try tomorrow with if the weather holds. 
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| HarbingerDawn | Date: Sunday, 10.03.2013, 12:30 | Message # 62 |
 Cosmic Curator
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| Quote (Watsisname) C/2011 L4 is starting to become visible from the northern hemisphere. Anyone able to spot it yet? I'll give it a try tomorrow with if the weather holds.
We finally had the first clear night in two weeks here. I tried to spot it after sunset but had no luck. However I don't have anyplace to go that has a very good view to the western horizon. I also suspect that I might not get another chance as the clouds will probably return for another week or two 
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| midtskogen | Date: Sunday, 10.03.2013, 12:41 | Message # 63 |
 Star Engineer
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Norway
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| I have a view of a flat western horizon. The sun will be about 7 degrees below the horizon when it sets, so it might be possible. The weather is perfect today, so I'll have a look if I get the chance.
NIL DIFFICILE VOLENTI
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| Tim | Date: Sunday, 10.03.2013, 15:18 | Message # 64 |
 Explorer
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Belgium
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| I predicted rain for next week, got snow. -_-
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| midtskogen | Date: Sunday, 10.03.2013, 19:12 | Message # 65 |
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Star Engineer
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Norway
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| The comet set just under an hour after sunset here, but the sun sets too horizontally, even in March.
The comet is just above the horizon in this picture. The horizon ridge of the hill is about 19 minutes above the true horizon, and I don't think conditions could have been much better.
+1 to the one who can spot it. I can't... I tried to stretch the contrast a bit.
NIL DIFFICILE VOLENTI
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| Watsisname | Date: Monday, 11.03.2013, 06:30 | Message # 66 |
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Galaxy Architect
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| Yeah, I was unable to spot it, either. :/ The surface brightness is just too low compared to the twilight.
From my latitude of 38°N the comet was at 5° altitude when the sun was at -6°, and this angle should improve to about 13° by early next week. So it shouldn't take too much longer to be viewable.
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| midtskogen | Date: Monday, 11.03.2013, 06:47 | Message # 67 |
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Star Engineer
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Norway
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| The sun was at -7° in the picture. And conditions couldn't be better, extremely dry air (-8°C and 35% relative humidity). My latitude is 60°. A bunch of other people tried to spot it from southern Norway last night, visually and photographically. None were successful.
NIL DIFFICILE VOLENTI
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| Watsisname | Date: Monday, 11.03.2013, 07:37 | Message # 68 |
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Galaxy Architect
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| The comet was successfully photographed last night from New Jersey (~40°N), but only just barely -- in the photo the comet was only a degree above the horizon!
So I'm guessing the sky becomes sufficiently dark when the sun is <~-10°. Last night from your location at 60°N the comet was 2° below the horizon at that time. But by Wednesday that will be to to +3°, and +10° by next week.
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| midtskogen | Date: Monday, 11.03.2013, 08:03 | Message # 69 |
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Star Engineer
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Norway
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| Yes, but a challenge is more fun. I'll try again. The outlook this week is good. This is the sunniest part of the country, but we still have more than 60% cloud cover on average.
NIL DIFFICILE VOLENTI
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| Spyro | Date: Monday, 11.03.2013, 20:12 | Message # 70 |
 Explorer
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| I tried but it was completely overcast here.
I'm back, but am I here to stay? Hopefully!
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| Watsisname | Date: Tuesday, 12.03.2013, 00:09 | Message # 71 |
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Galaxy Architect
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| Yeah, the condensed water menace has taken residence in my airspace for the next several days as well. :<
Good luck midtskogen, and share photos if you can capture it.
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| midtskogen | Date: Tuesday, 12.03.2013, 11:55 | Message # 72 |
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Norway
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| I looked yesterday. There were only a few clouds in the sky, which of course happened to park just above the western horizon. But I read one report from someone who saw the comet from Oslo yesterday. Then the comet was just 0.2 degrees above the horizon.
The forecast for tonight is cloudy and light snow, so unless it brightens to at least -30, I wont see it. But tomorrow, Wednesday, looks very promising, and then it should be obvious for the naked eye as well.
NIL DIFFICILE VOLENTI
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| DoctorOfSpace | Date: Tuesday, 12.03.2013, 21:55 | Message # 73 |
 Galaxy Architect
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| Of course its cloudy on the days its supposed to be visible. 
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| midtskogen | Date: Tuesday, 12.03.2013, 22:48 | Message # 74 |
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Star Engineer
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Norway
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| It didn't get as cloudy as I feared, but it was not possible to see anything between the snow showers. Anyway, I made this timelapse.
Tomorrow will be the day!
NIL DIFFICILE VOLENTI
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| Watsisname | Date: Wednesday, 13.03.2013, 02:01 | Message # 75 |
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Galaxy Architect
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| That view is so stunning, love the timelapse with the precipitation bands. 
As luck would have it my skies completely cleared up a few hours before sunset, and I was able to spot the comet. It was much harder to see than I had guessed. In fact I was never was able to see it with unaided eyes; I had to use a spotting telescope, and my first visual sighting was when the sun was about 8° below the horizon (putting the comet about 6 degrees above). It was very easy to pick up with the DSLR camera though, using a 2-2.5 second exposure with ISO 800. I've upped the brightness/contrast slightly in the photos as well.
Edited by Watsisname - Wednesday, 13.03.2013, 02:04 |
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