Comet 73P Observed!

Hi all

At 23.10 this evening i made my first obsv of 73P/SW fragment C with the 8" LX10 F/6.3 at 49X located to the SW of Arcturus high in the eastern sky under a beautiful dark clear sky. trans and seeing 8/10.

The comet was small with a dia of 1-2' with a bright starlike central condensation and well condensed at DC:7? I seen what appeared to be a faint dust tail for +3' long! The comet is very easy to see and if it looks like this now then it could put on a good show in May assuming it dosent fizzle out before then. I am very pleased to see this comet and will be following it from night to night watching it grow as it becomes a naked eye object! I made a quick sketch at the eyepiece and will re observe it again later in the night!

Clear skies!

Great report there...


At what magnitude would you estimate the comet is at now Martin?


That sounds very exciting... A naked eye comet in may!!


Some reports are predicting that it will reach no less than mag. 8.0.


I can't wait to get a glimpse of it on the next clear night down here in Wicklow..

Mag 10 or there abouts. It will be much brighter than mag 8 and if it holds together then maybe mag 3.5 - 4.0

Thanks!

Clear skies to you.

Fingers crossed Martin

I hope to get an image this wekend....

Keith..

I hope you get an image Keith..i have a good feeling about this comet..fingers crossed!