Bill Weir
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 2166
Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada
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Last night I too had one more chance to observe the comet. I was about to head to bed but had to put the dog out for a minute. I chanced to look up (sometimes this can be a bad thing) and to my amazement the sky was totally clear. It's been raining very hard here for the last couple of days and is again today. I grabbed my 10X50 binos out of my truck and scanned a line down the western edge of Bootes. Like said above the comet was reasonably easy to pick out to the west of gamma Bootes. It didn't ssem as bright as it had last week but then again I had just come out of the fully lit house.
I then got out my 6" dob and set it up on the top step of the house so I could shoot through the crack between the 150' tall trees to the west of my house. At 71X (17mm T4 Nagler) the comets brightness appeared to be more even than it had last week. There was still the stellar pseudo-nucleus quite easily visible. A 15' diameter to the coma seems about right. For comparison I scanned up to M101. The comet pretty much matched in size and appearance the brighter central area of the galaxy. In fact I was quite surprised at how similar the two looked.
I see that it's been mentioned once, above that it's been seen naked eye but has anyone else? I'm asking because I gave it a try and think that I have. I took the scope off the comet and then just scanned around the sky naked eye. Then I looked with averted vision towards the general area of the comet and sighted the Telrad where I believed I could see a small faint brightening. It was a direct Bull's-eye hit. When I looked on charts, there are no naked eye stars in that area.
Seeing as it was clear I moved the scope to a more convenient location and continued to do some DSO observing for the next hour (this is where the bad part of looking up comes in). Needless to say I didn't get to bed early and now I'm rather tired. Oh well, I beat the rain and that's a good thing.
Bill
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6'' Orion SkyQuest
f/5 12.5" Astrotel truss dob
f/3.3 20" Super FXQ Starmaster
William Optics 80mm ZenithStar ED II
1591/2500
Observing sessions grand total for 2012, 47.
So far in 2013, 7.
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Tonk
Postmaster
Reged: 08/19/04
Posts: 6100
Loc: Leeds, UK, 54N
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VZ13 is still sporting a very fine dim short tail. Heres a stack of 58 x 3 mins @ ISO 800, heavily stretched and inverted B&W to show the fine hint of a tail structure. Image taken 18th July 22:36 UT to 19th July 01:37 UT
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Televue 85/TRF-2008 field flattener, Meade LX200 10", Manfrotto 055SSB tripod/410 geared head/AstroTrac TT320X-AG/056 3D head, GM-8/Gemini, 10 Micron 1000 HPS, Canon 40D (unmodded), Canon 450D (modded w/Astronomiks clip-ins - UV/IR, OWB), Coronado SM60/Lunt B1200/WO diagonal, Baader Herschel Wedge
Leeds Sky Clock Ripon Sky Clock
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Tonk
Postmaster
Reged: 08/19/04
Posts: 6100
Loc: Leeds, UK, 54N
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And heres a regular image (stacked on the comet) - the tail is just visible
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Televue 85/TRF-2008 field flattener, Meade LX200 10", Manfrotto 055SSB tripod/410 geared head/AstroTrac TT320X-AG/056 3D head, GM-8/Gemini, 10 Micron 1000 HPS, Canon 40D (unmodded), Canon 450D (modded w/Astronomiks clip-ins - UV/IR, OWB), Coronado SM60/Lunt B1200/WO diagonal, Baader Herschel Wedge
Leeds Sky Clock Ripon Sky Clock
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Tonk
Postmaster
Reged: 08/19/04
Posts: 6100
Loc: Leeds, UK, 54N
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And heres the "star freeze" version
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Televue 85/TRF-2008 field flattener, Meade LX200 10", Manfrotto 055SSB tripod/410 geared head/AstroTrac TT320X-AG/056 3D head, GM-8/Gemini, 10 Micron 1000 HPS, Canon 40D (unmodded), Canon 450D (modded w/Astronomiks clip-ins - UV/IR, OWB), Coronado SM60/Lunt B1200/WO diagonal, Baader Herschel Wedge
Leeds Sky Clock Ripon Sky Clock
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John Kocijanski
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/22/03
Posts: 1826
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Nice images. I caught again last night. I'm not sure if the moonlight was making appear dimmer but it seems to have lost some brightness.
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Deep Space Observer 10 * SPC-8 * C102 HD f/10 * XT 4.5 * Orion/Moonlite 80ED * PST *
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Jure
sage
Reged: 06/14/03
Posts: 415
Loc: Plavje, Slovenia
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Here's my late report for my observation on July 17th. The sky was not as clear as during my previous observation, but still naked eye limiting magnitude hovered just below 7.0 in the area of the comet. Looking very carefully, I could again (just) detect the comet, despite my m1 estimate through 7x50 binoculars being fainter than the naked eye limiting magnitude. No tail was seen in 11x80.
C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR)
2007 Jul.17.89UT: m1=7.0 dia=13' DC=5 ...7x50B, Jure Atanackov (Zaplana, Slovenia)[Bortle class 3 sky, NELM6.9 in the area of comet, which was (just) detected with the nakey eye, suggesting a brighter NE m1.]
Phil: the comet was just at the limit of detection with the naked eye. Certainly there, but nothing more. Not bright enough to get a meaningful NE m1 estimate.
Tonk: outstanding images! I especially like the inverted BW one, as the tail is easiest to see on that one.
CS!Jure
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Celestron CR150HD
10x50, 11x70 binoculars
Nikon D80
MBK Team http://www.orion-drustvo.si/MBKTeam
Slovenian ICQ comet report page
http://astro.ago.uni-lj.si/icq_data.html
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Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Nice set of pictures, Tony and interesting report, Jure.
John, I also was out last night looking for the comet. With the moonlight in the 15x70's,, it didn't jump right out at me (neither did M3). Before I could look harder, a band of clouds came over the mountain and that was that. Forecast tonight has degraded from clear to partly cloudy. 
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Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 1715
Loc: Canton, OH
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Jure et. al.,
I got an observation of it from a site in East-Central Ohio. It agree that it looks a tad brighter than it did a week ago, with maybe a touch more condensation:
Jul 21.17 UTC: m1 = 7.0, Dia = 15', DC = 6....10x50 binoculars....Phillip J. Creed (Stillwell, OH) [NLM ~ 6.9 overhead, ~6.7 in vicinity of comet]
Clear Skies,
Phil
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"The hopeful depend on a world without end, whatever the hopeless may say"--Rush, "Manhattan Project"
Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
12" f/4.9 Skywatcher Collapsible Dobsonian
8" f/4.9 Orion Newtonian on alt-az mount
Oberwerk 15x70 Binoculars
Minimalist Eyepiece Collection: 30mm ES-82, 22mm Vixen LVW, 14mm Delos, 10mm Delos, 2X GSO ED Barlow, 4X Powermate
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Jimbo100
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/26/05
Posts: 1176
Loc: Oxford, UK.
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Wonderful images, Tonk. 
Unfortunately, I haven't had any chance to view this comet in the last 12 days - it's been filthy weather down here, all record rainfall and floods!!
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SteelersNation
sage
Reged: 09/07/06
Posts: 257
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Caught a very nice view of it last night in our clubs 22.5" reflector. I'm sure it would have been more impressive w/o the moon, but then again clouds were rolling in and made it difficult. It was still easily identified.
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"We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
"What I cannot create, I do not understand."
AstroSky 10" truss dob by James! Happily Home Since 2007!
Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh
www.3ap.org
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2610
Loc: Missouri
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Looks like skies may cooperate for me tonight so I may give it a try. Been a little 'under the weather' but I sure hate to pass this one up.
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Todd
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TonyDralle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/06
Posts: 1158
Loc: Bethel Park, PA
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Slewed my Nexstar 8 to the comet's position tonight from heavens-above.com . Immediately noted a bright diffuse object near edge of field. Initial conclusions: a) comet coordinates not very accurate, b) comet considerably brighter than a week ago. Then realized bright object is M3, and comet's coordinates actually very good. It appeared a bit dimmer to me than a week ago, but moon is a factor tonight. Comet and M3 separation about 45 - 50 minutes of arc, fitting easily in same 1.2 degree FOV.
- Tony
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- TonyD
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CarlosEH
Postmaster
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 6714
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Tonk,
Thank you for you excellent images of C/2006 XZ13. The small ion (gas) tail is very interesting. I look forward to your future images.
Carlos
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Tonk
Postmaster
Reged: 08/19/04
Posts: 6100
Loc: Leeds, UK, 54N
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Last images from me I'm afraid. Spent last night chasing non existant clear skies to get the VZ13/M3 portrait. Oh well failed this time. I'm now on holiday for a week and the comet will have got far to low in my skies by the time I get back to my scope. So its bye bye VZ13
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Televue 85/TRF-2008 field flattener, Meade LX200 10", Manfrotto 055SSB tripod/410 geared head/AstroTrac TT320X-AG/056 3D head, GM-8/Gemini, 10 Micron 1000 HPS, Canon 40D (unmodded), Canon 450D (modded w/Astronomiks clip-ins - UV/IR, OWB), Coronado SM60/Lunt B1200/WO diagonal, Baader Herschel Wedge
Leeds Sky Clock Ripon Sky Clock
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2610
Loc: Missouri
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I had clear skies last night but had to dodge a few power lines that are near my house. I got a few shots but my exposures were limited to 1.5 to 2 minutes and I only took about 10. Mine aren't all that impressive but I will post what I got.
Yes, excellent work on that latest shot Tony!
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Todd
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PeterL
super member
Reged: 03/02/04
Posts: 122
Loc: Santa Fe, NM
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skunked by monsoon clouds here in New Mexico...caught a brief glimpse for visual, but no imaging was possible for me.
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2610
Loc: Missouri
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Here is my unprocessed, unstacked attempt. Been busy so I havent had time to process anything.
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Todd
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Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Todd,
That'a a pretty nice image of VZ13/M3 and gives a good comparison--thanks for posting! I was unable to observe that night.
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Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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