BarrySimon615
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 918
Loc: New Orleans, LA
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I have worked up a chart for Comet NEAT positions beginning on 5/6 for three days, then skip a few days to 5/11, and then positions again for 5/14, 5/15, 5/16 and 5/17.
The chart is set for my location in New Orleans at 9:20 PM CDT on 5/11. Why 9;20 PM? It is the approximate end of astronomical twilight.
Magnitudes are projected and come from the COMET CIRCULARS. The magnitude could be brighter (or dimmer) than these projections.
The comet is denoted by the yellow asterik. The tail of the comet will point away from the lower right hand corner of the chart.
This will be a very well placed comet for all of us in the northern hemisphere and it will be visible at a convenient time. The magnitude estimates mean that it will be very easily seen from a dark location if the estimates hold up. It could potentially have a very nice tail and should be a great binocular object. Take advantage of the opportunities you have beginning next weekend and continuing thru
the following weekend. From 5/8 the comet begins to lose magnitude at a fairly steady clip. By the weekend of 5/21 the comet will have faded to about magnitude 2.5 to 3. A few days later the Moon becomes a real problem.
This could be the next really good comet and may be the best one we will be able to see for several years if not longer. Make time to see this one.
Barry Simon
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Dennis
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1284
Loc: Westford, Mass
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Thanks Barry: After three failed attempts at Bradfield, I'm hoping to view Comet Neat (C/2001 Q4).
I got up at 4:30am for the past three mornings and drove 2 miles to a decent easterly viewing spot. Slight haze on the horizon.  Oh well, at least I enjoyed the attempt.
Hope to catch this one. 
Thanks again!
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Dennis
Nexstar9¼GPS
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 3531
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Thanks Barry,
I intend to make every effort to observe and sketch this comet.
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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jmoore
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 1959
Loc: Beaufort, NC
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yep...thanks, Barry.
i've been eagerly anticipating some views of this one. There's a nice article or two about it in the May issue of Astronomy.
i'm sure your chart will help.
cheers,
jeff
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Hardin 12"
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BarrySimon615
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 918
Loc: New Orleans, LA
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Here are some photo tips -
While film photography is losing ground to digital, film photography will positively be the medium to work in for Comet NEAT. Most of us have point and shoot digital cameras and they produce too much noise to attempt comet shots. Film lends itself well to comet photographs
assuming you have a driven mount and a good alignment.
One variable still unknown is the length of the tail of this comet. That will determine just what camera lens you should use. Another factor will be if you have the capability of rotating your camera rig on it's mount to better compose your photograph. To do that I would
highly recommend either the Bogen/Manfrotto 3028 or 3025 heads. These heads attach easily to a piggyback platform and allow full 360 degree rotation and full tilt capability. They are very sturdy and will hold a 35 mm camera with up to a 200 mm lens well. Cost is under $50.00.
If your photographic interest is either just the comet with tail, or the comet and other object (M-44, M-46), consider the area of sky you need to cover in relation to how much area each of these lenses cover:
50 mm 27.5 by 41 degrees
75 mm 18.3 by 27.5 degrees
100 mm 13.75 by 20.5 degrees
135 mm 10 by 15 degrees
200 mm 7x 10 degrees
300 mm 4.5 x 6.8 degrees
500 mm 2.75 x 4.1 degrees
(Comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2) was so long in 1996 that even a 24 mm wide angle lens could not capture it all from a truly dark location!) I would also recommend that any 50 mm lens be stopped down to about f/2.8. Image quality, especially near the field periphery, is really
not very good with most 50 mm lens in the wide open position. Additonally vignetting will cause hot spotting where the center of the exposure will look brighter than
the edges. Stopping down will improve this as well.
Exposure times with camera settings between f/2.8 and f/4 and 200 ISO film will likely be best in the 5 minute range when the comet is low, and between 10 and 15 minutes when the comet is near the Beehive.
Barry Simon
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Scott Beith
SRF
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 33054
Loc: Gulfport, MS
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Thanks Barry,
Your calculations for New Orleans will be perfect for me in Gulfport. If these clouds ever decide to go elsewhere, I may get a chance to see the darn thing. 
So far in my observing career, comets have eluded me. This is a great way to introduce myself to this aspect of astronomy. Thanks again Sir. 
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  Scott
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
"The measure of a man’s greatness is not determined by what he accomplishes for himself, but by what he accomplishes for others.” -- Some Bald Guy
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777Guy
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 574
Loc: 48'29N 122'37W
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I just got back from flying two roundtrips across the north atlantic and had very clear skys but have not been able to locate the comet visually without aids. I was at 57*north and looked from north to south at angles up to 60* with no joy. Is it not visible at all right now? I started looking about an hour before sunrise, but then I was scooting along at about a 650 kt ground speed due to wind.
Edited by 777Guy (05/02/04 07:10 PM)
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BarrySimon615
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 918
Loc: New Orleans, LA
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Comet NEAT is an evening comet and will rapidily be rising from the southwest horizon starting about now. A little higher each night. Due to atmospheric extinction you will probaby have to wait at least 1/2 hour after sunset to begin to see it. Look slightly east of Sirius in Canis Major. It will rise up over the next few weeks staying to the east of a line drawn between Sirius and Procyon and continuing up to it's meeting with the Beehive (M-44) on May 15th and 16th.
Barry Simon
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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I'd like to invite everyone to post any photos in the Comet Photo contest in the photo contest forum. We're trying to capture all of our wayward visitors over the next few months and hope that all CN members that are photographing will also post them in the contest thread.
Comet Photography Contest Thread
Thanks, Tom
Edited by Tom L (05/02/04 11:56 PM)
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777Guy
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 574
Loc: 48'29N 122'37W
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Barry,
I am confussed...again! For some reason I was thinking Comet NEAT was now a morning view. Thanks for your info, I should have checked with your chart and reviewed S&T before I ran amok.
Thanks,
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BarrySimon615
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 918
Loc: New Orleans, LA
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Comet LINEAR and Bradfield are (were) the morning comets.
Barry Simon
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777Guy
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 574
Loc: 48'29N 122'37W
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I knew that!
Thanks,
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nemo
sage
Reged: 06/09/03
Posts: 388
Loc: Eugene,Oregon
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Barry,
As all ways you have provided some very practical,useful and easy to understand information. I printed out your graph&photo and will most certainly be using it in the next few nights God willing and if the weather cooperates.
R/S,
Dan
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"Humility is not thinking less of your self-it is about thinking of yourself less."
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Dennis
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1284
Loc: Westford, Mass
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Skies have not been kind here lately. Around 9:00pm tonight I peaked out to see haze limited stars. Scope's in the shop so I pulled out my Obers. Very limited. Decided to try for NEAT. Went back inside to refer to my charts. Phone rang. My buddy Steve had NEAT in his binos. Just a fist width left of Procyon he said. As we talked, I walked out with my Obers, began viewing and bingo ... there it was. A large fuzzy ball! You could see that the fuzz was off-center and pulled off to the southeast. Very memorable image. 
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Dennis
Nexstar9¼GPS
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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You could see NEAT Dennis? I guess the clouds where thicker (with more light pollution) over here in the Boston area. Very disheartening, but tonight will be a new night with hopefully less--much much less, cloud cover.
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Dennis
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1284
Loc: Westford, Mass
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NW: Yes! Went from overcast to thin haze around 9:00pm. It was visible through the haze. Eventually it cleared up and I got to scan around with the Obers for awhile. It was great to see NEAT. Should be visible tonight also. Hope you catch a view!
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Dennis
Nexstar9¼GPS
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Dennis,
I woke up last night at midnight and looked out the window to see very clear sky, but just couldn't get out. Will try tonight.
We need to plan a New England night out. With you to the south of me and NW to the north, I'm thinking I'll email you guys next time I do a get together in my fromt yard. I have two scout nights out in the next 3 weeks and I need to plan two school nights out, for a small class, within the next month. I'll keep you posted if that sounds like a good idea to you.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Dennis
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1284
Loc: Westford, Mass
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NEAT was falling below the treeline at about 10:00pm. It was nice to finally see some stars.
Night out sounds great! Do keep us posted. Weeknights (except Tues)are best for me. I'm only about 40 minutes north of you. Will also want to compare notes on Katahdin!
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Dennis
Nexstar9¼GPS
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I mistakenly thought Westport. either way not very far.
I'd like getting to gether to compare notes and just for a night out too.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thanks EdZ. That sounds wonderful! Keep me posted as well. My schedule is erratic with my other hobbies, but surely a date could be hammered out between us all.
I guess it cleared up later on in the evening. Rats! Well tonight's weather is looking iffy, but hopefully we'll all get a peek of NEAT.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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No go. I looked outside about 9:30pm last night and the clouds were rolling in rapidly and unfortunately, not leaving rapidly. Hopefully tonight will be merciful.
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Dennis
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1284
Loc: Westford, Mass
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I was able to view NEAT at about 9:00pm. Noticeably higher than last night. Clouds came, but then cleared out around 10:00. I brought out the Obers on tripod and my viewing chair and enjoyed the magic for 45 minutes. The night sky has changes alot since I've been able to view. Lots of new sights to the east. It will have to do for a while as you see below. This is a definite candidate for a cloudy nights logo!
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Dennis
Nexstar9¼GPS
Edited by Dennis (05/11/04 09:06 AM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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You are getting all the weather breaks as of late Dennis. Those clouds last night came roaring in like something out of a bad horror movie and hung around. NOAA has pretty much the same forecast that you're showing us. However, I do think tonight will be the night! (fingers crossed!) 
Edited by night watch (05/11/04 12:37 PM)
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Dennis
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1284
Loc: Westford, Mass
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Good luck NW! Tonight is looking excellent! I'm on a tennis court from 8-10 with obligatory end-of-season brews after, so enjoy for the both of us! 
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Dennis
Nexstar9¼GPS
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I'll be watching tonight, and every night to the end of May. Last night after the roaring clouds left... Neat started to shine!
Edited by Mneb (05/11/04 05:12 PM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I saw NEAT Dennis (as well as other objects)! Finally a break from the clouds! Like Barry said, around May 15th NEAT should be very close to M44 so it will get even better for binocular users and photographers.
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Dennis
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1284
Loc: Westford, Mass
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That's great NW! It pops into view nicely without those darn clouds. Skies did clear up nicely. I got home at 11:15 and just had to pull out the Obers and my observing chair. Spent 45 minutes surfin around. Was able to see M81, 82 and just barely got M57 (target chosen from Jeff's post). Could have stayed out for hours. I'll be out tonight as the CSC shows the best conditions I've seen and the jet stream is well to the north. 
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Dennis
Nexstar9¼GPS
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Exactly. Another observation to note is Mars. It's about 1 degree north of M35 in Gemini...at least it was last night. I'm sure it will look equally great tonight. My "problem" is trees. The back (which faces NNE) of the house I rent is closely lined with trees. As much as I love them, they're gettin' way! 
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jmoore
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 1959
Loc: Beaufort, NC
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I caught NEAT last night through my 15x70s. Went out to the country where the skies were darker. Sky was clear. It was a naked eye object for me...similar in appearance to M44...in fact, when I first saw it, I thought it WAS M44. Then, I threw up my binos...what a site.
Incidentally, the naked eye view was very impressive, too. Seeing both M44 and NEAT as smudges in the same region of the sky was quite exciting. I can't wait until these two get even closer. Photo-op.
I viewed NEAT through my 80mm scope, too, but it was MUCH better in the binos. Wider FOV framed it nicely, and I could see more of the tail in my binos, too. Don't know if this was because of the brighter exit pupil in my binos or what. Anyway, it was really really nice. I won't forget it.
cheers,
jeff
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Hardin 12"
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Bill Grass
Prince Regent
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 11652
Loc: Denham Springs, LA
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Quote:
Then, I threw up my binos...
  Sorry, Jeff. I couldn't resist!
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Dennis
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1284
Loc: Westford, Mass
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Dennis
Nexstar9¼GPS
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jmoore
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 1959
Loc: Beaufort, NC
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yes...you got it right, Bill! that's exactly how it happened. I keep them in my stomach, so they're with me at all times. Very grab n go. The problem is when I need to get them out the other end.
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Hardin 12"
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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that gives "fully multi-coated" a whole new meaning.... 
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jmoore
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