Comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin)

[martinastro]

Hi Tyler, I seen the image and thought it was a good one. I was also impressed by this image...

http://spaceweather.com/submissions/large_image_popup.php?image_name=James-Champagne-Comet-Lulin_1233856110.jpg

I could imagine you sitting out there in the Sun lol. I can't wait to get doing that again myself!

Good luck with Lulin. I might get to see it tonight also. 

[Tyler]

haha, Martin, that link you sent was the one I meant to post, but as I said earlier I couldn't see. The photo you posted was the one I was refering to with the tail and anti tail very visible, sorry guys. Lol maybe I should have brought sunglasses

[Roman White]

... Lulin and zubenelgunubi? I think I spelled that right...

Maybe not... nobody knows 
Just say 'alpha Librae' or 'a Lib' or 'HIP 72603' and everybody will understand you here 

[brianb]

... Lulin and zubenelgunubi? I think I spelled that right...

Maybe not... nobody knows 
Just say 'alpha Librae' or 'a Lib' or 'HIP 72603' and everybody will understand you here 

Zubenelgenubi

BTW I don't know the HIP designations ... but I'll give you Flamsteed 8 Librae, GC 19970 for the fainter (northern) component & Flamsteed 9 Librae, GC 19975 for the brighter (southern) component of the double which comprises alpha Librae.

Anyhow the comet was clearly visible near it this morning despite poor observing conditions - lots of drifting cloud preventing any attempt at imaging, plus interference from the Moon which will be a nuisance for the next 10 days (at least). The large elliptical coma is still evident, less condensed than previously, and my 10x50 binoculars showed a couple of degrees of the ion tail. The dust (anti)tail is short & faint.

The comet was also visible in my tiny 4x20 binoculars, though not as clearly as with the 10x50 Swaros. It was hard to see 7th mag stars in the 4x20s, so the comet must have been significantly brighter than that.

[martinastro]

I observed comet Lulin this morning between 05.40 and 06.10 UT despite the glow from the bright Moon low in the NW. The scope revealed the dust and ion tails including two, and possibly three radial features within the coma which I assumed were jets. The coma was large, soft, and diffuse. It was easy in 10x50mm binos so I had a try at seeing it without optical aid. I stood in the shadow of my house to block the Moon and cupped my hands around my eyes to stop distacting stray light. Over a 20 min period I glimpsed the comet perhaps a a dozen times with the naked eye as a large grey patch of light very close above Alpha Librae. This comet is brighter than thought!

My instincts though, from the view in the scope, tell me that this comet is a dud. It won't get very bright unless there is a fragmentation event/outburst. The tails are extremely faint. We will find out what will happen during the next dark period. Fingers crossed for something unexpected!

[brianb]

this comet is a dud. It won't get very bright

Congrats on seeing it without optical aid, which proves it's at least the best comet since Tuttle this time last year.

True, Lulin is already past perihelion, but it's got to get a lot closer to us yet .... and the sky will be moonless at the time of closest approach, when it should be 1 - 1.5 mags brighter than it is now. It's not going to be a great comet, but we're unlikely to see a better one this year.

[John9929]

Yeah well done seeing it with the naked eye Martin, that has to be one of the first sightings, from here anyway? I didn't wait up after our 'phone chat as the sky was very hazy and didn't expect I would see it, in any case the moon was so bright it just made the conditions worse.

[martinastro]

Thanks very much Brian and John. I haven't heard of any other naked eye sightings yet (anywhere) but it certainly was visible...with difficulty. The sighting confirms your observation Brian about it being easily seen in 20mm binos and possibly brighter. The mag estimates must really come down to aperture effect. Looking forward to the 1 to 1.5 increase in mag soon. At least it will be better than Tuttle as you said. Fingers crossed for an outburst. The coma is bright but the tails are currently a sorry sight visually at the moment. Having said that ,I'm sure I glimpsed both of them in the 10x50s. Seen two sats passing near the coma in the scope which was cool. I was quite sure the anti-tail was much longer than others are reporting also. The sky was 100% clear at the time with the trans varying between 7-8/10. Before hand I seen a faint moonbow and a few hail and snow showers. Temp was -4 degrees.

[John9929]

Check out this latest image from Michael Jaeger. Look at the background galaxies!
http://spaceweather.com/comets/lulin/05feb09/Michael-JAcger1.jpg

[Roman White]

Congratulations Martin. A naked eye observation sounds very encouraging.  What was the magnitude and NELM?

I haven't heard of any other naked eye sightings yet (anywhere)

Chris Wyatt from Australia reported a naked-eye observation on Feb.03 (this is the first report I have seen)
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/CometObs/message/3319

[martinastro]

Thanks for the link John, Michael Jager never disappoints when it comes to comet images!

Thanks for that link Roman. The observation is encouraging.

I reckoned the comet had to have been around mag +6.0 or +6.1 as a guesstimate. I don't record limiting mags of the stars because I think it's pointless.  . ..but at a guess, I would say +6.3 with averted vision in that low area. It was better higher up.

[Roman White]

..but at a guess, I would say +6.3 with averted vision in that low area. It was better higher up.

You have no light pollution there? and the Moon was up?  Hmm, I'm a bit wondered to hear that - "despite the glow from the bright Moon low in the NW", "+6.3 with averted vision in that low area" - you have very good sky conditions!

Well, I can't judge on sky conditions now because I have already forgot what does the sky look like... 
3 1/2 weeks with no clear sky and 5 days of 100% overcast - it is already quite disappointing. Today again - rain and fog...

Meanwhile some people have sucess with it.
Photo by Gennadiy Borisov (from S. Ukraine), taken from here

I like the ion tail

[martinastro]

Excellent image there!

Page 6 of the SW gallery us updated...

http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_lulin_page6.htm

Check out the image on the homepage. Some great images arriving in now.

Roman, when the Moon is low the sky is not so badly effected, the Moon is opposite the comet also. With good dark adaption, patience, breathing excercises, and by shielding any local lights you can see to a very good depth. This gets easier with practise. The sky tran was pretty good but no brilliant. On an excellent night here I can see M81 without optical aid, and that's with scattered light pollution. Hope this answers your question.

[brianb]

..but at a guess, I would say +6.3 with averted vision in that low area. It was better higher up.

You have no light pollution there? and the Moon was up?    Hmm, I'm a bit wondered to hear that - "despite the glow from the bright Moon low in the NW", "+6.3 with averted vision in that low area" - you have very good sky conditions!

Yup ... at 15 degrees altitude to the South or South East my NELM would be around 4. 6 overhead would be excellent at my site, and I wouldn't get there with the moon in the sky.

[Tyler]

Haha, Friday night. Im staying up all night (or at least till spot lulin) Finally a night where I don't have to wake up for anything. Hopefully in about 3 hours I will make my second observation. 

Wish me clear skies