Post by Al Degutis on Jul 12, 2007 0:08:54 GMT -6
From last Saturday 2007-Jul-07:
We had spent the entire day working on our living room/dining room
remodeling, putting up wainscoting (panels actually). Even though I
was tired and going to try and ignore the second clear night in a row
(on the weekend, no less) and get some rest. I was surfing some
astronomy lists and saw a post about a comet that is easily viewable
with binoculars. That was enough for me. It had been a while since I
viewed a comet (last summer actually) so I grabbed my 10x70 Fujinon
binoculars and tripod and searched for this comet. The comet, named
C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR), was relatively easy to see using averted vision,
once I lined up Zeta Draco in the 11 o'clock position in the field of
view of the binoculars. It's not very bright so it was only visible
with averted vision but it did seem large. I don't know if my eyes
were playing tricks with me, but occasionally it seem to been rather
elongated. Probably just my tired eyes.
From tonight, Wednesday 2007-Jul-11:
I needed a break after the chaos of getting ready for the Midwest
Imaging Conference, so I went outside around 23:15 to see if it was
clear. It was clear, so I quickly went back into the house to look up
where this comet was at tonight. I had read that it is moving quickly
and will start to dim within the week. Starry Night placed it near the
star Edasich (Iota Draco), still in the constellation Draco. At first
I looked at it with the 10x70 binoculars in my hands, not on the
mount. I want to see if it was easy to find since I read a report
earlier to day that someone viewed it with 8x32 binos. Even though I
struggled to keep the binos still, I thought I had found it. I found
something fuzzy, with no tail, it was visible without averted vision.
Next I dragged out the tripod and mount and got a good steady look
through the binos and confirmed that it was the comet. I was still
able to see it directly, although faintly. Averted vision made it
stand out a little more. I decided to sketch the field of view. I
*may* scan it and post it online later.
I look forward to checking this comet out at EPOCH 2007 this weekend. It
should be a great view under those dark skies... and I'll see who's
scope I can sneak a peak through.
If it's clear this weekend, you should check out Comet C/2006 VZ13. It's
going to fade away quickly.
Clear skies,
Al Degutis
www.astrophotoinsight.com
We had spent the entire day working on our living room/dining room
remodeling, putting up wainscoting (panels actually). Even though I
was tired and going to try and ignore the second clear night in a row
(on the weekend, no less) and get some rest. I was surfing some
astronomy lists and saw a post about a comet that is easily viewable
with binoculars. That was enough for me. It had been a while since I
viewed a comet (last summer actually) so I grabbed my 10x70 Fujinon
binoculars and tripod and searched for this comet. The comet, named
C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR), was relatively easy to see using averted vision,
once I lined up Zeta Draco in the 11 o'clock position in the field of
view of the binoculars. It's not very bright so it was only visible
with averted vision but it did seem large. I don't know if my eyes
were playing tricks with me, but occasionally it seem to been rather
elongated. Probably just my tired eyes.
From tonight, Wednesday 2007-Jul-11:
I needed a break after the chaos of getting ready for the Midwest
Imaging Conference, so I went outside around 23:15 to see if it was
clear. It was clear, so I quickly went back into the house to look up
where this comet was at tonight. I had read that it is moving quickly
and will start to dim within the week. Starry Night placed it near the
star Edasich (Iota Draco), still in the constellation Draco. At first
I looked at it with the 10x70 binoculars in my hands, not on the
mount. I want to see if it was easy to find since I read a report
earlier to day that someone viewed it with 8x32 binos. Even though I
struggled to keep the binos still, I thought I had found it. I found
something fuzzy, with no tail, it was visible without averted vision.
Next I dragged out the tripod and mount and got a good steady look
through the binos and confirmed that it was the comet. I was still
able to see it directly, although faintly. Averted vision made it
stand out a little more. I decided to sketch the field of view. I
*may* scan it and post it online later.
I look forward to checking this comet out at EPOCH 2007 this weekend. It
should be a great view under those dark skies... and I'll see who's
scope I can sneak a peak through.
If it's clear this weekend, you should check out Comet C/2006 VZ13. It's
going to fade away quickly.
Clear skies,
Al Degutis
www.astrophotoinsight.com
