I was skunked this morning but briefly glimpsed the soon to be great Comet McNaught tonight. At 5:12, 30 minutes after sunset, I saw McNaught for less than 5 minutes before it slipped behind Mt. Potosi. I used binoculars and was located clear across Las Vegas valley in Henderson near the B for Basic HS in the River Mts. There was some high thin clouds about. I realized that I did not wait long enough this morning before giving up. Unfortunately for us north of the equator, the best show will be on SOHO. On my way back home, I saw a very swift, bright green meteor streak over Boulder City. It was the brightest meteor I've ever seen and I saw 10,000 the night of the 2001 Leonid storm.
Comet McNaught
Started by bottomfeeder, 01/07/2007 02:11AM
Posted 01/07/2007 02:11AM
Opening Post
Posted 01/07/2007 02:33AM
#1
My son and I went out to a bluff over the Pacific Ocean, about 150' altitude tonight. I set up a 5" f 8 achromat as the sun was setting. It was hazy, with low clouds in the distance.
The location was south of San Francisco about twenty miles. By the way, it was a beautiful sunset!
As the sun set through the clouds we were able to observe it unfiltered through a 17 mm. Nagler without a diagonal. It was a first for me, and we clearly saw two sunspots! The sun showed a very thin green rim, which may have been an artifact of the achromat viewing a yellow-orange object, but as it finally disappeared from view, the green pooled toward the top, just for an instant.
Soon afterward, Venus became visible, but was featureless, appearing nearly full. Never did see Altair, due to high thin clouds to the north.
We may try it from a higher elevation tomorrow, maybe 2500' altitude, with an unobstructed view over the ocean.
Gotta bag this comet! Comet deprivation SUCKS!
The location was south of San Francisco about twenty miles. By the way, it was a beautiful sunset!
As the sun set through the clouds we were able to observe it unfiltered through a 17 mm. Nagler without a diagonal. It was a first for me, and we clearly saw two sunspots! The sun showed a very thin green rim, which may have been an artifact of the achromat viewing a yellow-orange object, but as it finally disappeared from view, the green pooled toward the top, just for an instant.
Soon afterward, Venus became visible, but was featureless, appearing nearly full. Never did see Altair, due to high thin clouds to the north.
We may try it from a higher elevation tomorrow, maybe 2500' altitude, with an unobstructed view over the ocean.
Gotta bag this comet! Comet deprivation SUCKS!
Posted 01/07/2007 04:37PM
| Edited 01/07/2007 05:26PM
#2
See my observation of the bright green meteor below and compare it to this link from Asia of seeing another similiar one. I think this is more than a coincidence. And yes, I am bragging about the Leonoids - was an epic show.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/251141/1/.html
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/251141/1/.html
James Werle said:
I was skunked this morning but briefly glimpsed the soon to be great Comet McNaught tonight. At 5:12, 30 minutes after sunset, I saw McNaught for less than 5 minutes before it slipped behind Mt. Potosi. I used binoculars and was located clear across Las Vegas valley in Henderson near the B for Basic HS in the River Mts. There was some high thin clouds about. I realized that I did not wait long enough this morning before giving up. Unfortunately for us north of the equator, the best show will be on SOHO. On my way back home, I saw a very swift, bright green meteor streak over Boulder City. It was the brightest meteor I've ever seen and I saw 10,000 the night of the 2001 Leonid storm.
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