Comet Kushida Brighter Than Expected

[brianb]

I even don't know exactly when I could get some clear skies...  Cry

Don't despair, you'll get some clear sky eventually. Try ignoring the weather forecast!

[Roman White]

Check this image of comet Kushida http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/3245545573_c8887946e4_b.jpg

Photo Details:
Ramah, Louisiana
January 31, 2009  8:39-9:14 PM CST
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II Camera Lens at f/2.8
Auto-focused on crescent moon, Piggybacked on Celestron C8 Fork Mount
Canon XTi, 24 X 60 second exposures ISO 1600
jcham21@yahoo.com

I can only imagine how great it is looking now in binoculars' FOV. 

[brianb]

That's a nice image of the comet embedded in the Hyades (it's still there apparently) - The Moon is getting to be a nuisance in that part of the sky, & I haven't actually had a clear evening for over a week. Looks possible today though.

[martinastro]

Lovely image of Kushida and the Hyades. That's a capture to be proud of. Thanks for sharing the link Roman.

Pity the comet looks like nothing visually (my opinion). Some comets seem to really show off on camera, I think Lulin is currently one of those comets.

[Tyler]

Yeah great image, thanks Roman!

[Roman White]

Poor comet Kushida... All attention now is to N3 Lulin and nobody looks at 144P. 

Last magnitude estimates are:

Alfons Diepvens
2009 Feb. 18.82 UT: m1= 8.6, Dia.=5', DC=3, ...20cm/F9 Refractor, ...Diepvens (Balen,Belgium)

Juan Jose Gonzalez Suarez
2009 Feb. 13.93 UT: m1=8.6, Dia.=10', DC=2/, 25x100B.

So it must be now near 9mag and visible in very good conditions.

I managed to search for it on Feb.17/18 night (18:55-19:20 EET).
The sky was clear, LP was moderate at ~60^o(S). I tried my best to see it. I hid from the light trespass inside a special shelter (I'll tell more about it later  ), so the total environment brightness decreased a few times.
The ML was 11.4m, yet I glimpsed for a moment an 11.5m star. 10 mag stars were easy to see - these conditions were surprisingly great for winter (with its usual bad transparency) and evening (greater LP).
Though I didn't find the comet with my scope. 
After this, my thoughts of C/2006W3 melt away.

[martinastro]

Yes, mine have melted away on this comet for some time Roman lol. Kushida is too diffuse and is just not a very interesting comet to look at, otherwise I would be. It's still a good photo target though. Christensen in the other hand should reach mag +8.0 during the Summer...nice to keep an eye on that one  I'm curious about this shelter Roman