Astronomy, Photography and Weather
March 28, 2024, 03:35:19 pm
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: IAA lecture programme continues alternate Wednesdays from September - an excellent programme of lectures- Queens University Belfast - Bell Lecture Theatre. Also keep an eye out for the Summer Events
 
  Home Help Search Gallery Staff List Login Register  

Comet C/2008 A1 (McNaught)

Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: Comet C/2008 A1 (McNaught)  (Read 949 times)
Roman White
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1479


Poltava, Ukraine


View Profile WWW
« on: August 24, 2008, 07:53:36 pm »

Seiichi Yoshida reports unusual light curve of comet C/2008 A1 (McNaught):

"Dear colleagues,
The light curve of C/2008 A1 ( McNaught ) looks strange.

http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2008A1/2008A1.html
Evident undulation is visible in its brightness evolution.

Its brightening had been almost stopped since mid June until late
July. However, it suddenly started brightening very rapidly in August.

The difference between visual and CCD observations has been very
large.
Best regards, Seiichi Yoshida
comet@aerith.net
http://www.aerith. net/ "

In recent days it's magnitude is reported at 6.5-7.5. Look at the graph below: it is very rapidly brightening!


Comet is moving north now.
Date/Declination
Sep.10   -40
Sep.17   -35
Sep.24   -30
Oct.08   -20  Smiley
Oct.24   -10

When it will be visible to me (since the beginning of October), it will fade to +7.6mag (as written in the ephemeride), but if it is getting much brighter, maybe we could see it at 6-7 mag?  Huh Smiley

« Last Edit: October 02, 2008, 02:42:57 pm by Roman White » Report Spam   Logged

SkyWatcher 130/900mm EQ3, Bresser 76/700mm, 20x90 bino. and other, Olympus SP-550UZ
Eclipse & comet chaser, occultation & meteor observer
Poltava Astronomy Portal

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

martinastro
Martin Mc Kenna
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5182


Maghera, N. Ireland


View Profile WWW
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2008, 11:19:55 pm »

C/2008 A1 McNaught looks to be an interesting comet indeed. At it's current rate of brightening it could become a nice binocular or faint naked eye object. An outburst could turn this into a beauty if we are so lucky. Do you remember when great comet McNaught was discovered it was expected to reach 6th mag close to the Sun, then it suddenly became a daylight object. Pity C/2008 A1 won't be well placed for us but I will be trying to hunt it down when it arrives in the north. Let's keep our fingers crossed for a nice comet soon.  Smiley

« Last Edit: August 25, 2008, 02:32:05 pm by martinastro » Report Spam   Logged

Roman White
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1479


Poltava, Ukraine


View Profile WWW
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2008, 02:56:30 pm »

The comet is coming and it seems that nobody does anything about it?...  Undecided

It is already visible to me (lat 49.6N) (see visibilty graph for Sep-Nov), and in a few days it will go out from nautical twillight.
Attention now! One or two weeks later it will arrive in the dark evening sky at its biggest magnitude (7.5 by BAA)

Don't miss that comet!
« Last Edit: October 11, 2008, 04:06:23 pm by Roman White » Report Spam   Logged

SkyWatcher 130/900mm EQ3, Bresser 76/700mm, 20x90 bino. and other, Olympus SP-550UZ
Eclipse & comet chaser, occultation & meteor observer
Poltava Astronomy Portal
Roman White
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1479


Poltava, Ukraine


View Profile WWW
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2008, 04:11:24 pm »

Observed on Oct.07 by Alexandre Amorim:
C/2008A1 McNaught  2008 Oct  7.92 UT: m1= 7.6, Dia=4', DC=5...20x80B...Alexandre
Amorim(Florianopolis,Brazil)[moonlight]


It is moderately condensed but already not much bright, so in my opinion it must be found as fast as it arrives in the dark skies.
Now I start hunting it.
Report Spam   Logged

SkyWatcher 130/900mm EQ3, Bresser 76/700mm, 20x90 bino. and other, Olympus SP-550UZ
Eclipse & comet chaser, occultation & meteor observer
Poltava Astronomy Portal
martinastro
Martin Mc Kenna
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5182


Maghera, N. Ireland


View Profile WWW
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2008, 11:16:15 pm »

This evening (Oct 30/31st) I was searching for new comets low in the SW close to the Sun when I picked up C/2008 A1 McNaught in Ophiuchus at 18.29 UT. At this time it was about 7 degrees above the trees which block my horizon. The comet was surprisingly bright and easy to see with a faint field star located near the eastern side of the coma. The coma was a large circular haze sporting a subtle green colour which gradually got brighter towards the centre. The coma had the typical cometary apperance as it gradually faded into the background sky. I noticed a slender tail pointing to the N and possibly a second tail pointing NW but I cannot be certain. The FOV was crisscrossed by haze at the time so the coma size and tail length could be larger. This is my 46th observed comet, and the first in some time which I actually found while undetaking a visual comet sweep.

Mag: + 7.5 (this is a 'guesstimate') Dia: + 5' D.C: 5. Using an 8.5" F/7 dobsonian reflector with 32mm 2" SWA eyepiece.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2008, 11:32:58 pm by martinastro » Report Spam   Logged

martinastro
Martin Mc Kenna
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5182


Maghera, N. Ireland


View Profile WWW
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2008, 03:07:21 pm »

Comet McNaught is still visible in the SW evening sky within northern Ophiuchus near mag +8.0. Tonight it's close by to the north of the open cluster IC 3665. Check it out. Chart from skyhound.

Report Spam   Logged

Roman White
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1479


Poltava, Ukraine


View Profile WWW
« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2008, 08:14:04 pm »

Still at 8.0mag?? I thought it become much fainter  Huh

Anyway I have now no time and no weather to observe a faint comet. Pity that I've possible missed A1 McNaught  Sad
Report Spam   Logged

SkyWatcher 130/900mm EQ3, Bresser 76/700mm, 20x90 bino. and other, Olympus SP-550UZ
Eclipse & comet chaser, occultation & meteor observer
Poltava Astronomy Portal


Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Bookmark this site! | Upgrade This Forum
SMF For Free - Create your own Forum

Powered by SMF | SMF © 2016, Simple Machines
Privacy Policy