Comet McNaught
 

Anyone got any pics yet? This may turn out to be a highly visible comet over the next few days, worth looking out for in less-than-cloudy skies.

http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_mcnaught.htm

Chance would be a fine thing, all we are getting at the moment is grey overcast skies and they don't look good in a picture.

Alan

Thanks for that Sharon. Lets hope for a clear spot. From the pics in your link, it seems anyone with a 300mm should get something if the skies are clear.

Don

Good one Sharon. One of my eyes are pointed toward south of east at dawn now.

I thought an almost clear evening was going to be spoilt by a couple of low straggling clouds but fortunately they cleared away to give good views. :) Its easy to see if you wait until Venus is visble and then look a bit right - binos are recommended but not essential.

This was digiscoped with my Oly C7070 and a (terrestrial) pentax scope.
Approx 4000mm equiv, Exp 1/2, ISO 100, f4.5

Great shot Nigel, well done.

The Comets track is detailed in Stevies Sky at Night magazine, so as we had a blue skies afternoon, we were ready. Scope, bins and camera, but let down by a band of cloud on the horizon in a line just below Venus. :mad: :mad:

From the article, it appears our last chance before it goes below the horizon, is the 13th. Forecast for tomorrow is diabolical, so only two opportunies left.

Don

Nigel, Lucky you and very good one indeed.
Missed the opportunity this morning and evening due to cloud. Forecast for next 2 days is even worst but you know those who forecast these weather news.

OK I have a clear sky at the moment. Which direction should I look ? The news tonight said near Venus but that means nothing to me :D

You need to be looking in a westerly direction just after sunset (around 4.30 - 5pm) Venus is a very bright starlike object very low near the horizon. The comet is to the right and below Venus. You need to be somewhere where you have a clear view to the west. Tomorrow (Friday) is probably the last chance of seeing it as it is approaching the Sun.

I saw it yesterday from a bedroom window but unfortunately it was setting behind a tree. The view through binoculars is wonderful. This afternoon I went to a very flat part of Essex but unfortunately had a puncture on arrival and there was cloud in the wrong place. The cloud nearly cleared after I had changed the wheel and I managed to get glimpses of the comet through 11x80s but unfortunately forgot my tripod so again no pic.

Dave

Many thanks Dave

Fingers crossed for tomorrow at sunset.