Time: 16:05 - 18:45 U.T. (9:05am - 11:45am)
Telescope: 80mm f/5 refractor
Magnification: 24x
Binoculars: 20x80
Seeing: Fair
NELM: Daytime - Very Good Transparency
Temperature: 0 F to 13 F (-18 C to -11 C)
Over the above mentioned time interval I made intermittent daytime observations of Comet McNaught. Weather predictions called for clouds today. Indeed, there were scattered clouds in my sky, but much of the sky remained crystal clear! The top sketch above was made at 16:30 U.T. with the refractor. The lower sketch is based on observations made with 20x80 binoculars from 16:45 - 18:45 U.T.
Even immediately after making the refractor-based sketch, the binoculars revealed substantially more of the comet's tail. From then on I used only the binoculars. The refractor showed a smaller, almost stellar pseudo-nucleus.
Near the end of the time interval I found the comet to be "easily" visible to the unaided eye. It was definitely more easily seen with the unaided eye today than it was yesterday. Either my sky improved, the comet brightened, or both. In my opinion the more important factor was a brightening of the comet.
At the end of the session I was able to compare the comet with Venus, both in the 20x80 binoculars. Both objects were at a similar altitude in my sky. Overall, I had no doubt that the comet was brighter than Venus; but Venus seemed to be more intense. That is, per square arcsecond Venus seemed to be more brilliant; but the comet (even its pseudo-nucleus alone) was 'putting out' more light.
Post Script: 21:00 U.T. I just took another (daytime) look at Comet McNaught. It's fantastic with the 20x80 binoculars! This time the tail was 'obvious' even to the unaided eye! This comet is putting on a fantastic show!!
No comments:
Post a Comment