Comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz), anyone?

Started by kmichaelm, 12/03/2004 09:54PM
Posted 12/03/2004 09:54PM | Edited 12/03/2004 09:55PM Opening Post
Has anyone been observing Comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) as it passes through Lepus / Eridanus - near Orion? Here in Missouri we've been socked in with cloudy weather and rain for what seems like waaay too long, but this weekend's weather looks promising. Reports are that "This thing is big, big, big.." and extremely easy to find:

http://www.skyhound.com/sh/2004_Q2.gif

At

http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/RecentObs.html#04Q2

Observers are reporting that it is at least as bright
as m=6.0 to 6.3 while some Arkanas observers report it
at m=5.7. See:

http://www.arksky.org/cgi-bin/cometlog.pl?request=C/2004_Q2_(Machholz)

This comet is predicted to reach mag 4.1 in early
January.

See this web site for charts and orbital diagrams:

http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/charts.html

http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/

Recent images at

http://theastronomer.org/comets/2004q2_20041108_candy.jpg

http://theastronomer.org/comets/2004q2_20041117_sostero.jpg

http://theastronomer.org/comets/2004q2_20041121_montanucci.jpg

http://theastronomer.org/comets/2004q2_20041127_sostero.jpg

http://www.arksky.org/asoimg/machNEG.jpg

http://www.arksky.org/asoimg/machholz_1203.jpg
Posted 12/05/2004 01:42PM #1
Observed easily Friday night about 11pm. Was visible in my 50mm finderscope! A binocular object certainly. Large and bright in my 10" f5 dob using a 15mm ep. Diffuse fan shape tail but subtle, only apparent when moving scope slightly.
Posted 12/06/2004 07:17AM #2
I had a look at C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) from the ASH Naylor Observatory on Friday night prior to moonrise using a 5" f/5 achromat at magnifications up to 63x and a 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain at 162, 202, 259, and 381x. At 381x the pseudonucleus was bright and quite prominent and the coma had a rather peculiar, irregular shape. A hint of a tail could be seen.

Dave Mitsky


Chance favors the prepared mind.

De gustibus non est disputandum.
Posted 12/06/2004 05:28PM #3
I was able to see it Friday from the severely light polluted skies of St. Louis with a 76mm
refractor, but not with my 10X50 binoculars. Too much glare - I had 4 lights staring me right in the face. Also had many tree limbs that I kept having to dodge, along with very small patches of clouds. Couldn't really say how bright it was other than it seems like it's around m=6, perhaps a tad brighter. Need to get out to a dark site...
Posted 12/14/2004 07:29PM #4

I saw ONE Gemind last night under my wonderful dome of light pollution. Of course, I wasn't much in the mood to spend a lot of time outside in the cold since I already spent most of the day yesterday in the cold - in my office (HVAC problems at work)...however, I had no problem finding Comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) with 10X50 bincoulars. It was quite easy to find as long as I'm not string right into a street light and has been an easy city binocular object for at least a week. No tail or fanning visible in the binoculars. Looked light a very bright globular in the binoculars.

I used this chart which I had NO problem reading in the ambient light outside:


http://www.skyhound.com/sh/2004_Q2.gif

Other info at:

http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/charts.html

http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_1396_1.asp

http://cometography.com/lcomets/2004Q2.html

Images:

http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2004Q2/pictures.html