Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: wmccall on January 09, 2005, 11:05:15 pm

Title: First Under the Stars 2005
Post by: wmccall on January 09, 2005, 11:05:15 pm

Want to see a comet? I've seen several, but this is the first from my hot tub.  Find The Pleades (M45 commonly called the 7 sisters, follow the belt stars of Orion west) use binoculars. Look south, put the cluster at 8 oclock in your binos and Comet Macholz will be at 2 oclock. Its dim, but I can see if from our light polluted skies.  My first comet from the lounger! Tip on this one, Steady your head and arms against the side of the tub to steady your view.

Title: Re: First Under the Stars 2005
Post by: spahappy on January 10, 2005, 01:48:07 am

wmccall,

I'm so glad you're a sky watcher. I'd never know about these events if you didn't share them with us.

I just came back from a perfect night of cross country sking and I'm on my way out to my tub to do some comet watching.

Thanks for the info!


Spahappy :D

Title: Re: First Under the Stars 2005
Post by: Bubbles on January 10, 2005, 03:17:49 am

If you have enough to drink and watch the stars, just move your head back and forth and they all seem like comets.

Title: Re: First Under the Stars 2005
Post by: wmccall on January 10, 2005, 07:56:26 am

This is the faintest object I have tried successfully to see from the tub. I would estimate it to be between 5th and 6th magnitude and it is just a fuzzy patch, not as spectactular as if you saw Hale Bopp or Hytatuke.  AT that brightness you could definitely see the effects of heat rising from the tub in the binos.  That was our first clear night in 14 days and no wind!

Title: Re: First Under the Stars 2005
Post by: windsurfdog on January 10, 2005, 04:50:20 pm

Thanks for the heads up (pun intended!), Terminator.  We've had VERY mild temps here with lots of humidity lately which has resulted in LOTS of fog.  If that breaks, I'll break out the binocs and give it a look.  (I'm won't mention that it is currently 73 degrees outside now.....) 8)

Title: Re: First Under the Stars 2005
Post by: wmccall on January 10, 2005, 04:57:22 pm

Quote

wmccall,
 
I'm so glad you're a sky watcher. I'd never know about these events if you didn't share them with us.

I just came back from a perfect night of cross country sking and I'm on my way out to my tub to do some comet watching.

Thanks for the info!


Spahappy :D

As we say for a greeting in The Columbus Astromy club, Clear skies! We sure haven't had many. Let me know if you can find it.

Title: Re: First Under the Stars 2005
Post by: wmccall on January 13, 2005, 08:07:34 am

By the way, here is what the comet looked like. This is a bit brighter than what I saw because this is a long exposure shot done by a local astronomer that same night.

(http://www.undermidnight.com/images/solarsystem/machholz.gif)