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[Rob_K]

Currently the brightest comet in our skies at around mag 8.5-9, some remarkable shots are now appearing of its unusual tail.  In the following link, some 10 degrees of tail is showing, razor thin and straight, looking for all the world like a satellite trace that happens to cross the comet head.  Looking forward to more on this...

http://astrosurf.com/obsdauban/images/cometes_img/10P/mosa025.jpg

And another:
http://space.geocities.jp/yusastar/images/10P_100720_H06_1.jpg

[Lester]

Can we see this comet Rob, or is it in the north?  That is tempting me to get the Taks out, luv a comet with a long tail.

[Rob_K]

Can we see this comet Rob, or is it in the north?  That is tempting me to get the Taks out, luv a comet with a long tail.

It's a good for us Lester, although it's a very late night or early morning object.  At my place, it rises at around 10:30pm in the east and reaches maximum altitude in the north of 61 deg at about 5am (that was for this morning - it is moving slowly southwards).

Here's a link to the ephemeris of the comet, and I've attached an image of its position this morning (generated in Starry Night).  Ignore the mag given in the ephemeris - latest obs suggest about 8.5, and it is at around its brightest now.

http://scully.cfa.harvard.edu/~cgi/ReturnPrepEph?d=c&o=0010P

[Rob_K]

Of course, there are only a couple of days left before the moon intrudes in the early morning...

[Lester]

Thanks Rob, I am seriously considering putting the 14" in its box and getting out the Taks, but Jupiter is suppose to be on the improve with the High over head.  All cloudy here now.  Jupiter stood me up this morning, so very dissapointed in her.

[Saundersgal]

Have you had a chance to see Tempel yet Rob, can we see its tail, or only in images?
We are clouded in  ... AGAIN ... here, but yes, the Moon will be lingering for a week or more. 
Saw Jupiter a few ams ago before work (when clear) ...  trying to get my bearings as to where comet was, but yes, checked on Starry Night, and not far from Jupiter at all. 
Last eamil from the comet site, said ? 20 degree dust tail!! 

[Rob_K]

Have you had a chance to see Tempel yet Rob, can we see its tail, or only in images?
We are clouded in  ... AGAIN ... here, but yes, the Moon will be lingering for a week or more. 
Saw Jupiter a few ams ago before work (when clear) ...  trying to get my bearings as to where comet was, but yes, checked on Starry Night, and not far from Jupiter at all. 
Last eamil from the comet site, said ? 20 degree dust tail!! 

Hi Liz!  No, just haven't had a chance - so comets & variable stars have been ignored for about 5 weeks now!   With the Moon it'll be a while longer yet...

The tail on 10P I gather is so fine & faint that you can't see it visually.  But I notice that 103P Hartley is brightening rapidly - in the mag 13s now and heading for naked eye mag 5.  Latest shots show a nice short dust tail, so who knows what it may be like?

Good luck with your observing - keep us posted!

[Saundersgal]

Thanks for that Rob, and hoping Hartley will keep us entertained too!! 

[Rob_K]

Oops Liz, don't know where I got mag 13s for 103P.  Seiichi Yoshida reports an obs of 15.3 on 23 July, from A Novichonok & L Elenin.  It was a CCD obs (expect the comet to be a little brighter visually), but even so it appears to be a bit dimmer than ephemeris predictions.  Seiichi is still saying mag 5 though.

[Saundersgal]

I hear Comet 10P Tempel is sporting a bit of a tail. Hope to get a look this weekend!!

[Rob_K]

Good luck Liz!   I get home again tonight after a week away on work, so maybe I'll have a chance in the next few days.

[Astroman]

I might give it a go, if this damn cloud ever goes away.

[Outbackmanyep]

Hi all,
After a month of frustrating weather i got my chance last night to observe some comets, i have not observed any comets in anger since June!

10P is a p-easy object, tonight it will be 30' East of Eta Ceti, it is showing a not-quite-stellar central condensation and an elongated coma to the North, it does enhance really well with a swan band filter.

All other comets are a bit difficult to find but i found 81P, W3 Christensen, 65P, you'll need a dark sky and plenty of patience! 

[Rob_K]

Great stuff OBMY, home again now but.....................    

[Outbackmanyep]

I only know too well what  is all about!

The ground is still soft at the gf's place, my observing chair legs got buried 4" down but a little pull and all was well.
Might be the fact that i have put on about 8 kgs as well! 

I feel your pain!