Last night i observed from 02.00 - 04.00 with the 8" F/6.3 SCT at 49X. The sky was incredible, very black sky background, no lights on in neighbour hood at all, trans 9, seeing 7. The milkyway was awesome, glowing like a cloud with complex vivid dark dust lanes extending the entire length of the sky into the east were it split in two bands within Aquila. Seen stars to mag 7.0 with naked eye and the variable star Chi Cygni on its rise to maximum like a Nova at mag 6.3?.
I tracked down C/2006 A1 Pojmanski in Lacerta, mag: 8.5, Dia: 3' DC: 5 blue circular coma that has gotten some what more diffuse and soft at its edges with a bright white soft central condensation. Seen faint colourless ion tail extending + 5' to the NW and a possible dust tail pointing south for 2' with a field star within the tail. Comet is still very easy to see.
Quickly swept up 73P/ SW3 - fragment C to the SE of Arcturus. Mag 9.5 Dia: 1-2', DC:7...tiny grey coma, well condensed and easy to see with sharp edges and sporting a brillant white stellar central condensation. Bright fan shaped dust tail pointing south for 5 and suspected to 8' in length with a bright spine like feature running through the centre of the ghostly tail. Comet is looking good!
Fragment B is now in outburst at mag 10.4 and i will be observing this very soon. 5 more fragments have been discovered bringing the total to 18 - 19 mini comets. very similar to SL9. I will continue to observe these comets with interest. Also had a quick look at M71, M27, M11, M80 and the Veil Nebula and possible Gegenschein sighting.
Clear skies!
Martin Mc Kenna
coruscations attending the whole length of the luminosity, giving to the phenomena the aspect of a wrathful messenger, and not that of a tranquil body pursuing a harmless course..comet of 1680
  