FF:NZ Comet McNaught

jp-30 · jp-30, Jan 16, 2007 at 11:46 PM

Who's seen it?

I only found out about it yesterday, and it's been overcast last 2 nights in Auckland.

[image=http://media.apn.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/00comet.jpg]

Astronomers said:

Twilight will be a bit more magical this week with the appearance of one of the brightest comets seen over New Zealand in years.

After dazzling astronomy buffs in the Northern Hemisphere last week, Comet McNaught is doing the same for their counterparts south of the equator.

Visible even with the naked eye during the daytime, McNaught is already generating a buzz among local enthusiasts, who went comet-spotting on Sunday.

Stardome Observatory astronomer Grant Christie said it was estimated to be the second brightest comet since records began in 1935. The brightest was Comet West in 1975.

"People have seen it in daylight so far, which is quite remarkable."

Dr Christie said the comet, named after Australian astronomer Robert McNaught who found it last year, is roughly as bright as the planet Venus - normally the brightest object in the night sky.

It would probably be visible with the naked eye for at least another week, he said.

"If it's not going to split in half, then it will continue to fade. It's been at its brightest and it will just gradually fade, although we'll probably be able to see it better over the next few days because it's getting further away from the sun in the sky, and it will be present a bit longer above the horizon after the sun has set."

Comet McNaught gallery

YouAgain · YouAgain, Jan 17, 2007 at 12:22 AM

Got my telescope/camera and **** set up, but its been way overcast with crap weather grrr.

jp-30 · jp-30, Jan 18, 2007 at 12:44 AM

Wow. Freakin' awesome.

Look to where the sun set - low on the horizon will be Venus - and 2 or 3 hand-widths directly to the left (same height above horizon) is the comet. I took some shots on my crap little digital camera - I'll post them shortly!

Edit. My snaps;

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/jaepee/comet1.jpg] [image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/jaepee/comet2.jpg]

SithForceLord · SithForceLord, Jan 18, 2007 at 4:13 AM

Yea, I was up Long Bay doing work this evening and tonight (just home now at 1am) and happened to glance over to the sunset and was like "holy ****, there's the comet!". Got better (tail got longer and brighter) as the sun set faded.

SithForceLord · SithForceLord, Jan 21, 2007 at 12:59 PM

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/markhansen/CometMcNaughtLongBay.jpg] [image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/markhansen/CometMcNaughtLongBay1.jpg]

From Long Bay Regional Park - same night JP was out at Puke'.

jp-30 · jp-30, Jan 21, 2007 at 1:46 PM

You should get out your SLR & tripod Mark;

30 second exposure some guy took last night.

[image=http://media.apn.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/22PeterTaylor.jpg]

Course we'll also need the cloud to lift.

SithForceLord · SithForceLord, Jan 22, 2007 at 12:19 AM

HOLY ****

That's stunning! mmmm, maybe another night. wow.

Star_Rocker · Star_Rocker, Jan 22, 2007 at 1:55 AM

Had a look at it through a telescope, it's pretty amazing!

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FF:NZ Comet McNaught

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