I finally observed comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) last night (12-May-2004) through haze, patchy clouds, and light pollution. In 8x40 and 10x50 binoculars it was surprisingly bright, with a very short tail, maybe half a degree that I could actually see, pointing away from the already set sun. I quickly set up the 13” in the driveway and at low power it was a very large and bright fuzzball. The nucleus is very concentrated and bright, almost star-like, even at 200x. The coma looked to me to be very broad and fan-like, as if it were extending into a tail (which I assume was there but sky conditions weren’t letting me see it). The short tail was more apparent in binoculars.
Here in the upper Midwest we've gotten into the summer weather pattern already. Warm, humid, hazy, and clouds, and scattered thunderstorms, especially late afternoon and evening. If only we could get a really clear night, I’m sure it’s spectacular. But at least I finally saw it.
Yippee!
Doug Scobel
Here in the upper Midwest we've gotten into the summer weather pattern already. Warm, humid, hazy, and clouds, and scattered thunderstorms, especially late afternoon and evening. If only we could get a really clear night, I’m sure it’s spectacular. But at least I finally saw it.
Yippee!
Doug Scobel
