Has anyone seen Comet 2001 Q4 [NEAT] yet? (without a scope) I thought it would be visible by now. I might just have too much sky glow in the western sky to see it.Roberta
Has anyone seen Comet 2001 Q4 [NEAT] yet? (without a scope) I thought it would be visible by now. I might just have too much sky glow in the western sky to see it.
Roberta
Yes, Roberta, that skyglow from Ft Smith will affect how well you can see Q4, but when you add in the light from the nearly full moon it's nearly impossible to find Q4 NEAT.
Dr Clay Sherrod suggests that amateurs and the public begin trying to find Q4 later this week and specifically this Friday and Saturday evenings. Check out all his suggestions at www.arksky.org for more information. You'll need an unobstructed view to the SW, and look to the area around the feet of Canis Major. Even these 2nd or 3rd magnitude stars will be somwhat difficult to see deep in the haze near the SW horizon, so try using binoculars to find Q4 NEAT.
REMEMBER: Comet Q4 NEAT will be readily seen by the following weekend here at Coleman Observatory when we have our first Public Night on Saturday May 15th from dusk till ?
http://www.fototime.com/4AF00803FD1287E/orig.jpg
Q4 from North of Van Buren Tuesday evening
I found the comet!!! I saw it Wed night with my binoculars but I didn't try my scope because of the moon. I saw it clearly with my scope tonight (Friday). I could tell that it was the comet because it was so fuzzy, but it did not seem to have a pronounced tail, just fuzziness all around. When should the tail be more visible? I read in Astronomy that it will be very close to M44 (Beehive Cluster) later this month. I can't wait!!
Roberta
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