UPDATE: January 14, 2007 - Check out these images and data from Gary Kronk's Comet and Meteor Shower website about Comet 2006/P1 Mcnaught

I was able to see Comet 2006 P1 McNaught this (Jan 10, 2007) evening, well before the sky got dark. I can now see why they've been saying it's the brightest comet in the last 30 years. Neither Comet Hykutake in 1996, nor Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997 could have been seen so close to the Sun at the elevation from where I saw McNaught this evening.

Have any other visitors or AOAS members seen it yet, other than Mike Holloway, that is. I hear from Mike that he's posted another of his pictures of it on our Photo Gallery. Take a look!

In fact, here's a link to it on page 10 of our "Members Astro Photo" section.
Bob

Members should be aware that as of 1/12/2007 this comet is visible in the daytime. Blocking the Sun and looking about 5 or 6 deg to the E of theSun the comet is visible with a tail. Don't Look at the Sun!!!!
Mike H.

Apparently, I've been unfortunate enough to live where there have been clouds since Jan 11th. I will certainly want to look as soon as the sky clears here.

Uh, these clouds may be my fault...

I knew buying a telescope would cause them but was not aware that buying a new quartz diagonal would too.

Or is this just cumulative payback for Christmas?

Fred
Charleston, AR
http://poppafred.tripod.com

Fred, I might have expected this from one of our newer members, but you SHOULD know better! How could you have been so thoughtless as to buy a new component while we have the brightest comet in decades in our skies?

This is just totally unacceptable behavior. I hope you're pleased with yourself for this extreme cold and insufferable cloud cover!


BTW - Good to hear from you again, too, Fred!
Bob

PS Did you mount your pier directly into the concrete of your floor? Does that cause any vibrations in your images?

I am Sick!! Look at what we missed. It is a once in a multilifetime event.
here

Sorry, folks!

It was already cloudy and raining so I figured it wouldn't hurt!

Little did I know the cloud effrect was exponential!!

Might have to figure out the formula on this one....

Fred
Charleston, AR

Okay, my theoretical formula.

Lets see.....

X = ((c sq)*$ / n

where:

percent current cloud cover = c
cost of accessories = $
estimated neccesity of new accessories in percentage = n
resulting cloud cover in seconds = X


so, based on date of purchase:

((100 sq)* 200) / 100 = X
(2,000,000) / 100 = 20,000
20,000/60 = 333.333 min
333.333 / 24 = 13.8 days = TODAY!

Good thing I needed the diagonal or we wouldn't see stars until mid March!!



Fred