Comet Ison??

[mike a feist]

Has anyone here seen Comet Ison yet visually? or Comet Encke? or even Comet Lovejoy? regards maf

[nigeljoslin]

I intend to look for Ison and Lovejoy in the morning, at about 4 to 4.30ish. I see that Mars, Regulus and Ison are practically rubbing shoulders!

[mike a feist]

0605-0623BST October 14: The sky was not clear of clouds here until so late with Mars being so high up that l could only observe it comfortably from the bedroom window using Hensoldt 8x30 binoculars rather than a telescope on a tripod. "Red" Mars and "blue" Regulus made a beautiful pair, separated by about a fifth of the fov. (As for the comet obvious hopeless even to try with this instrument at present)
0505-0630BST. October 15: In 70mm Kenko spotting scope at x20 Mars and Regulus were about 2/3rd fov apart = about a degree separation. In Hensoldt 8x30 binos about 1/6th fov. (As for comet ISON, nothing obvious and for a good source of current magnitude I just do not know.) regards maf

[trynda1701]

Where's the best place to get the current magnitude figures of ISON?

Mark

[nigeljoslin]

Getting a reliable current magnitude could be difficult, Mark, but, as you say, Mike, binos and spotting scopes aren't going to do it.

Heavens Above seems to consider Ison is varying around the 14 mark (hmm, could be rather tough, if it's small), and I've seen as `high' as 10 mentioned at this source, which should be reliable (Cambridge University): http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds/

Also, this source says between 10 and 11.2: http://www.cometisonnews.com/

Suffice to say that, this morning, I failed to find Ison or Lovejoy using my 14 inch Dob, which has comfortably displayed other small mag 10 to 11 Comets! I think mag 14 would be difficult for it, small comets often being a little diffuse, but Heavens Above tend to sometimes be conservative with their estimates, in my experience.

Maybe my scope would have discerned Lovejoy, but finding it isn't easy as one wanders the star fields of Monoceros at a minimum magnification of 60x. That said, I believe that Lovejoy is similarly dim.

Never mind, there was the thrill of the chase, and it was nice seeing the Orion Nebula and Jupiter again!

It may be the case that we'll have to wait until November.

Good luck, anyway,

Nigel

[trynda1701]

Ah, it still that faint, eh? I thought it might have been 9-10, and Mike thought he had a chance with the binos or spotting scope.

So, do we have a chance to see it before it performs its sungraze, or do we have to wait and see if it survives that and see it after perihelion?

Mark

[coldfieldboundary]

Succeeded for the the first time. But is was difficult.
This morning 5h15, funny to see Mars close to Regulus, but also went from Regulus to the comet and a finder chart by hand. Just next to a star, and it helped, to interpret his position while looking averted which was needed. Just visible. A smudge, nothing more. So finally made my estimate of 11.2, so still 2 mag. fainter than all efemerides. With the 12inch and at 120 times.
Had no time left, R1 Lovejoy and Encke shall be for another moment.

[nigeljoslin]

Well done! I look forward to another attempt, and will heed what you say about accuracy.

I did get excited at one point when I saw a comet shaped smudge, but it moved slightly when I moved my head.... ....it was the reflection of a star in my glasses!!

Was it that small that you needed 120x? I was using 60x.

Best wishes,

Nigel

[nigeljoslin]

Hello Mark,

I'm not sure how/if it will brighten before sungraze. We may have to wait until then, but at least it's not long to wait - November.

Apparently Lovejoy and Encke are brightening and are expected to climb well into single figures by late November/December. So...good news.

Cheers,

Nigel

[mike a feist]

Saw Mars and Regulus again this Tuesday morning still close together but not far from being in a horizontal line. (I fear that ISON is going to be a bit of a disappointment and least until closer to the Sun in late November and if it should survive perihelion, we can only wait and see. As someone who did not see Comet Kahoutek I shall certainly do my best to "nail" Comet Ison then.
As for Comet Encke (which I have never seen) and Comet Lovejoy (I failed to see a previous comet of that name), I hope to locate these. The bright Comet Panstarrs in the spring was a
"good" binocular comet and I hope Comet Ison at least reaches that level. Part of the problem I guess is all the "over-excitement" at the time of the discovery of Comet Ison. Anyway thanks to "coldfieldboundary" we now know that it is presently a 11 magnitude smudge. As a general rule 8.5 magnitude is my faintest limit here for anything fuzzy. regards maf

[coldfieldboundary]

Was it that small that you needed 120x? I was using 60x.

When using a higher magnification, the background in your eyepiece is much darker, and it gives more contrast, to find the comet first, when it's very faint.

[nigeljoslin]

Yes, I know that can work, thanks. I also wondered if it was very small; I've had that happen with some targets like small planetary nebulae, where you need a wee bit more magnification to distinguish it from a star.

Hopefully, we'll have another chance soon, after the forthcoming all-night moon period!

Cheers,

Nigel

[PaulB]

I tried this morning to see the comet through 15x70Bs but couldn't see anything. Now, thanks to reading coldfieldboundray's report, I know why.

At magnitude 11 and getting closer to the Sun. I fear another over hyped comet will pass us by, unless something remarkable happens.

[trynda1701]

I know we didn't get to see PanSTARRS at its best like the Southern Hemisphere did, but I consider that 2013 has had a good comet.

If ISON at least matches that, instead of what now seems like may have been overly optimistic estimates, I'll be happy.

And if I'm proved wrong by it surviving and putting on a great show, I'll happily stand corrected.

By the way, does anyone know where to find the visibility of expected positions of ISON on a 'Sky and Telescope style horizon layout' for before and after perihelion?

Mark

[Brian]

Well, there's morning apparition depicted here:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observin ... 09261.html

and some evening apparition graphics here:
http://waitingforison.wordpress.com/december-2013/
(scroll down)

HTH,