CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Comet Lulin and the Beehive
#2968617 - 03/06/09 09:36 PM Attachment (70 downloads)
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I made an observation of Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) on March 7, 2009 (01:00 U.T.) near the Beehive Cluster (M44, NGC 2362). The comet was a pale version of itself as the Waxing Gibbous Moon (10.4 days old) was nearby (~10 degrees). Comet Lulin and the Beehive Cluster were approximately 3.5 degrees apart. The nucleus of the comet was visible with a spherical coma. I believe that I was able to make out the ion tail closest to the coma, but it was never steadily held in view. The observation is a combination of two binocular (11 x 56 mm Oberwerk) fields. I missed the pair closer together the previous night, but was clouded out. That must have been a sight! I hope that others have observed the comet and Beehive together. North is to the left and east towards the bottom.
A digital image produced using Photoshop CS3.
Carlos
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frank5817
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Reged: 06/13/06
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2968709 - 03/06/09 10:32 PM
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Carlos,
Wonderful sketch and report. The comet is still clearly visible even with the lunar light so bright. Thanks for posting. 
Frank
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Tommy5
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/28/04
Loc: Chicagoland
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: frank5817]
#2968725 - 03/06/09 10:42 PM
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Very nice sketch of this evening comet, thanks for sharing.
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varmint
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Reged: 02/10/07
Loc: Pacifica, CA, USA
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2968865 - 03/07/09 12:26 AM
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Nice work Carlos. I wish I had a chance to observe and/or sketch Lulin. I may have an opportunity tomorrow or sunday, but the transparency doesn't look very promising.
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CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: varmint]
#2970298 - 03/07/09 06:37 PM
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Frank, Jim, and Tommy
Thank you for your compliments on my lates observation of Comet Lulin and the Beehive Cluster. I wish that the Moon had not been so close to the comet. It was still a nice view. The best of luck observing the comet.
Carlos
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rolandlinda3
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Reged: 01/24/06
Loc: Crozet VA 22932
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2970480 - 03/07/09 08:06 PM
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Delicate and pretty sketch under difficult conditions and in an area that was more than the FOV of your instrument. It's got my vote! Roland
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CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: rolandlinda3]
#2970605 - 03/07/09 09:28 PM
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Roland,
Thank you for the compliment on my Comet Lulin and Beehive Cluster observation. It was tough but worth it. I hope that you and Linda get to look at it soon.
Carlos
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Jeff Young
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Reged: 08/04/05
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2974137 - 03/09/09 04:31 PM
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Nice sketch, Carlos. Your background shading represents the moonwash beautifully.
-- Jeff.
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CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: Jeff Young]
#2974159 - 03/09/09 04:42 PM
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Jeff,
Thank you for the compliment on my Comet Lulin and Beehive Cluster observation. Your observations of the comet have also been excellent. I look forward to your future observations.
Carlos
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rodelaet
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Reged: 04/28/06
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2974270 - 03/09/09 05:29 PM
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Carlos,
Excellent, also with the lifelike moonglow interference!
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markseibold
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/19/08
Loc: Portland Oregon
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2974939 - 03/09/09 11:21 PM
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Carlos
Excellent rendering and diligence on your part with the hindering moon glow. I considered a similar rendering but shyed away for lack of seeing. You have me rethinking now. 
Thanks for sharing and your excellent accompanying text is also inspiring to learn from, Mark
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RLTYS
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Reged: 12/18/04
Loc: New York (Long Island)
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2975266 - 03/10/09 06:54 AM
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Carlos
An impressive sketch. Unfortunetly the weather here has been terrible. 
Thanks for the view. Rich (RLTYS)
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CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: RLTYS]
#2975710 - 03/10/09 01:04 PM
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Mark, Rich, and Rony
Thank you for the compliments on my Comet Lulin and Beehive Cluster observation.I wish that I could have observed them closer together. I am sorry about your poor weather. I hope that you all get to observe the comet soon.
Carlos
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CarlosEH
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2975772 - 03/10/09 01:37 PM Attachment (33 downloads)
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I was able to observe Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) last night (March 10, 2009 at 02:30 U.) while located between Cancer and Gemini using my 11 x 56 mm Oberwerk binoculars. Although a Waxing Gibbous Moon was present I was able to make out the comet well. The coma was diffuse and spherical. The ion tail was faintly visible in a northwest-southeast direction. The stars visible are between fifth to seventh magnitude. I hope others are able to follow the comet as well.
A digital image produced suing Photoshop CS3.
Carlos
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Erix
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Reged: 12/25/04
Loc: Texas, USA
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2975853 - 03/10/09 02:11 PM
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Excellent observations and sketches, Carlos. Thank you for posting them for us.
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CarlosEH
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: Erix]
#2976078 - 03/10/09 03:50 PM
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Erika,
Thank you for the compliment on my latest observation of Comet Lulin. This fleeting member of the solar system continues to impress us all. I hope that you get a look at the comet soon. I look forward to your solar observations.
Carlos
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CarlosEH
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2976954 - 03/11/09 12:07 AM Attachment (32 downloads)
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I was able to observe Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) on March 11, 2009 (01:00 U.T.) as it moves towards Gemini using my 11 x 56 mm Oberwerk binoculars. The coma was again compact but diffuse with a portion of the ion tail visible (less than that visible the night before as the Moon tonight was Full). I have depicted two binocular fields to show the motion of the comet (~1.5 degrees) since last night. I hope that others have been able to view the comet as well.
Carlos
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varmint
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Reged: 02/10/07
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2976991 - 03/11/09 12:44 AM
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That's wonderful Carlos. This comet is sure moving around. I did find it last night, but the moon washed it out pretty heavily so I wasn't able to see much detail aside from the core and fuzziness around the core (couldn't pick out the tail).
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RLTYS
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Reged: 12/18/04
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: CarlosEH]
#2977180 - 03/11/09 06:39 AM
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Carlos
Excellent binocular sketches. I've yet to see Lulins tail with binoculars.
Thanks for the view. Rich (RLTYS)
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CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Re: Comet Lulin and the Beehive
[Re: RLTYS]
#2981028 - 03/13/09 07:54 AM
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Jim and Rich,
Thank you for the compliments on my Comet Lulin observations. The comet does appear washed out, as you point out, especially in the Moonlight. The tail is very wispy and not easy to detect and is noted only when the seeing steadies. The best of luck in your own observations of the comet.
Carlos
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