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Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) Observations in South Bavaria / Germany from the 7th to 15th of January 2007 |
Prognosis on 3.1.07;
If the comet will survive the way around the sun it will one of the most brightest which can be ever observed. May the comet will exceed the legendary Hale Bopp. But don't forget, McNaught has such a close range ( 14° at 1.7.07 ) to the sun, that observations can only made after the sunset. The distance of only 7° at 1.12.07 will make observations may impossible. In a distance of 0,17 AU at the 12th of January he will approach in his perihelion (closest distance of an planet etc. in his elliptical orbit around the sun ) more than twice times nearer as the planet Mercury. On the surface of Mercury temperatures over 500°C can be reached at the sunside and in case of that heat oven the big snowball will be cooked well. The destruction of comet McNaught can not be excluded.
Best time of view: 9th to 11th of January 2007, around 17:20 pm or 7:30 am MEZ (Munich, ~ 48,20°).
Map: 1.11.2007, 17:20 pm MEZ
14th/15th of January
Update 01.15.07: The last days of observation good weather and a perfect blue sky was dominating. But the try to get the comet with naked eye wasn't possible at all. At the 14th I could saw McN in a Telescope (2000mm SC) as a shallow shining bullet. The reason was maybe a little whitish shining background disturbance caused by a higher contigend of water in the lower atmosphere. On the 15th no triage even in a refractor was successful.
13th of January
Update 01.13.07: Now it has gone real, to see the comet with the naked eye at the bright daylight. Much better with binoculars or a telescope. It is very useful to inform yourself about the real position. The following photos were taken at 15:00- 15:45 pm MEZ when the sun shined in full brightness 10- 15° degrees over the horizon.
Because of the close range to the sun, it is very important to handle very carefull with binoculars etc. Direct sun light through an telescope or tele lens will cause immediately blindness!
tb
An airplane is passing the comet. The distance of the airplane was calculated from me about 140 km by a mapping value of only 85" arcsec. Canon 20D, 860 mm Zeiss refractor, Exp.1/200sec, ASA 100, 15:30pm MEZ
Update 01.12.07: McNaught is now the brightest comet since 41 years which can be seen with naked eye. He will reach the light magnitude *mag (-5,0), and exceed the apperance of planet Venus. The actual brightness is apprx. ( mag -4 ). Maybe you'll get him during the day light. In comparision Hale Bopp had the most brightness of mag (-0,8). The last comet in this illumination class was Comet West in 1976. Comet Ikeya-Seki with mag -7,0 was the brightest comet in 1965.
Because of the visual range of ~ 5,5° to the sun it was expected that McNaught could only be observed by the sun probe SOHO.
tb
Canon 20D, 860 mm refractor, Exp.1/200sec, ASA 100
Left & middle; The comet at 15:43 pm. Another airplane is passing the Coma. What a nice impression. To precind the comet tail, the right airplane photo was adjusted in brightness, contrast, and tonal value. Right photo at 16:33 pm MEZ
tb
tb
The last observation day at sunset. The close range of 5,5° to the sun let the real illumination of the comet get much weaker as the days before.
tb
Cloister of Andechs
10th of January
tb
Light impressions during sun set. Right: The comet in 135mm tele lens.
tb
Canon 20D, 480 mm dig, Exp.1-2sec, ASA 100-200, pictures were token at the Auerberg, Bavaria.
The comet appears at 17:15 MEZ 4° degrees over the horizon. At this position the comet had its most illumination. Comet Mc Naught is the brightest comet which was observed since 1965. The estimated magnitude will reach maybe - 4mag.
tb
ah
tb
Middle: The church of Schwabmünchen. Photographed from Lagerlechfeld .
Andreas and the 15 seconds
Actually I wanted the comet on the other side of the church, but it was to late. I got this damned comet very close to the horizon for only15 seconds.
Left and right. The view to the coma by using the telescope. It wasn't it worthwile because the comet didn't show very much details. Siberia 1200mm/150, Exp.1/5, ASA 100
9th of January
mr
A powerful comet set by Martin Rietze
The next gap in the cloud poker was realized by Martin. During heavy rain showers in Munich the sky opens 25 km westward in the region Fuerstenfeldbruck
mr
mr
Canon 5D, 600 mm, Exp.1/30 and more
7th of January
tb
After several tries the bad weather in Southern Germany gave us a little cloud gap in the evening of the 7th January. And the surprise is, comet Mc Naught is very clear and distincly visible with the naked eye. The photo upper left was taken with a 70mm objective (100mm dig; automatic exposure time 1 sec), and shows the real light conditions between the dawn and the comet at 17:26 MEZ.
tb
The comet is plunging among the lower cloud and fog layers. Canon 20D, 480 mm dig, Exp.1sec, ASA 100
