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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 4, 2015 11:50:58 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2015 21:06:44 GMT 12
I have checked every night since the 4th and no comet thanks to the brightness of the moon. Tonight there will be nothing seeing as it's hosing down outside. Typical.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jan 8, 2015 22:10:27 GMT 12
The forecast is for clear skies in Wairarapa from Friday night, but as I'm now on late shift (I was on early shift, up at 3:00am, until this morning), I cannot be bothered getting out of bed really early in the morning when the comet is visible in the sky. However, I saw it from Gisborne during the weekend. I was staying with friends who live at Whaerengaahika (a few kilometres out of Gisborne towards Ormond) who are keen amateur astronomers and they had their telescope set up so it could be viewed in spite of the bright moon.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jan 11, 2015 15:45:08 GMT 12
Looked for it never saw a thing.
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Post by kiwiduster1 on Jan 11, 2015 17:09:29 GMT 12
Any idea of the best time and where to look ?? I had no luck at 3 AM this morning !! Cheers.
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Post by hardyakka on Jan 11, 2015 21:27:37 GMT 12
I spotted it last night at about 11pm through binoculars. Just follow a line "left" along Orion's bow arm and there it is. A blurry spot. Not so spectacular now. Might try for a photo tonight.
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Post by suthg on Jan 11, 2015 22:37:17 GMT 12
OK, it took some while getting to register the star groups in the sky for reference. The Pleiades group is above our North horizon, best seen looking slightly away from it as a soft glow structure of several stars. Find the "Pot" more easily recognised in the southern hemisphere skies!! Now, that is way too far up from horizon (say 60deg) and nearer to NNE away from the comet. Using Pleiades as a guide, and using 10 x 50 binoculars, go to about 45degrees elevation and more to the west - ie about NNW and you will see the comet as a large soft glow rather than a pin point of light. It seemed round in the binoculars and not streaky with a tail at all at that magnification. I hope this helps others - and I hope what I saw was the comet haha! I could not see it with my eyes and I could not easily just go to the spot, but needed Pleiades as a guide. There is a northern hemisphere map here, but that is upside down!! www.universetoday.com/118069/how-to-find-and-make-the-most-of-comet-lovejoy/So it's path is heading to the northern horizon roughly... |
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Post by hardyakka on Jan 12, 2015 0:25:48 GMT 12
OK, it took some while getting to register the star groups in the sky for reference. The Pleiades group is above our North horizon, best seen looking slightly away from it as a soft glow structure of several stars. Find the "Pot" more easily recognised in the southern hemisphere skies!! Now, that is way too far up from horizon (say 60deg) and nearer to NNE away from the comet. Using Pleiades as a guide, and using 10 x 50 binoculars, go to about 45degrees elevation and more to the west - ie about NNW and you will see the comet as a large soft glow rather than a pin point of light. It seemed round in the binoculars and not streaky with a tail at all at that magnification. I hope this helps others - and I hope what I saw was the comet haha! I could not see it with my eyes and I could not easily just go to the spot, but needed Pleiades as a guide. Here is a photo I took at 11:30pm on the 11th Jan. Facing roughly North. I have circled a few objects to help locate Lovejoy. Use binoculars. Maybe you young whipper-snappers can see it with the naked eye, but my lookers are a bit worn out...  |
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Post by suthg on Jan 12, 2015 6:01:07 GMT 12
I'm impressed you got such a good shot of it with the camera! Well done!
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