Comet Lulin (2009 Feb 25)

smita · Post by **smita** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:58 am

I was disappointed. Could not find the comet. I am in eastern MA, USA. But of course, my binoculars are pretty below par at 7x50. And there was quite a bit of light pollution, even though I tried to find as dark spot as I could. And looked and looked and looked. But nothing. Then returned back home with frozen toes at 15 degrees F. outside.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090225.html

Blimundus · Post by **Blimundus** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:03 am

Clouds as far as I can see here in Belgium... I should have tried a week ago when the sky was clear.

Indigo_Sunrise · Post by **Indigo_Sunrise** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:47 am

Don't worry smita, you're not alone! A friend and I attempted to view it Monday night (23Feb), but had no luck either. I'm going to try again Thursday, since it'll be so close to Regulus and hopefully that'll be the perfect 'guide' to help me find it. *fingers crossed*
Oh and - *hoping the weather cooperates!*

Blimundus, I hope your skies clear for you!

Happy viewing all!

neufer · Post by **neufer** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:11 pm

smita wrote:I was disappointed. Could not find the comet. I am in eastern MA, USA. But of course, my binoculars are pretty below par at 7x50. And there was quite a bit of light pollution, even though I tried to find as dark spot as I could. And looked and looked and looked. But nothing. Then returned back home with frozen toes at 15 degrees F. outside.

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http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance

<<Lulin’s closest approach to Earth, 0.41 a.u. (61 million km), occurs on February 24th. On the night of February 25th the comet goes through opposition, nearly 180° from the Sun in our sky. Will there be an "opposition effect" brightening of its dusty coma and dust tail?>>

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http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080507.html
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap061226.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990625.html

smita · Post by **smita** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:11 pm

I found this on YouTube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jKJaGVlUKk

Smita

aristarchusinexile · Post by **aristarchusinexile** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:42 pm

What might the "molecular carbon" emit from?

neufer · Post by **neufer** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:57 pm

smita wrote:I found this on YouTube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jKJaGVlUKk

It looks like Saturn & Regulus will be high in the southeastern sky by 10 PM.

Are you going to try again, Smita?

neufer · Post by **neufer** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:23 am

smita wrote:Could not find the comet. I am in eastern MA, USA. But of course, my binoculars are pretty below par at 7x50. And there was quite a bit of light pollution, even though I tried to find as dark spot as I could.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090225.html

I had little trouble finding Lulin with my old 20x80 binoculars in the clear (though not terribly dark) midnight skies of Alexandria, Va.

smita · Post by **smita** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:18 pm

I tried last evening around 9 PM (somewhat half-heartedly) and did not see anything.
Will try again tonight late. But next few days in Boston, MA area are going to be cloudy so chance of seeing anything is somewhat remote.
Smita

neufer · Post by **neufer** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:05 pm

smita wrote:I tried last evening around 9 PM (somewhat half-heartedly) and did not see anything.
Will try again tonight late. But next few days in Boston, MA area are going to be cloudy
so chance of seeing anything is somewhat remote. Smita

You won't have missed much;
Lulin's probably one of the least impressive comets that I am sure that I have seen.

My favorite comet with an anti-tail remains Arend-Roland:

which I saw naked eyed over Lake Champlain at summer camp in 1957.

smita · Post by **smita** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:42 pm

Yeah, looks beautiful indeed.
Over the years, I have seen comets - the one I remember the most had two tails - so many years ago that I do not remember the name.

Smita

mitchelliii · Post by **mitchelliii** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:37 pm

I got a few pics from the 23-24th.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mitchellii ... 682134607/

They are at the bottom. The brighter pics are from Comet Holmes last year.

Cheers,

Scott

nexstar114 · Post by **nexstar114** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:08 pm

I saw it with 10x50 binoculars, early in the morning on both 2/16/09 and 2/17/09 as it passed Spica, and the morning of 2/24/09 as it passed Saturn. But it was cloudy last night and didn't get a chance to see it pass close to Regulus. You really had to know exactly where to look to see it.

But it wasn't much to look at. Appeared as nothing more than a green/gray smudge that you couldn't see by looking at it directly, but averted vision made it easier.

Blimundus · Post by **Blimundus** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:23 pm

Blimundus wrote:Clouds as far as I can see here in Belgium... I should have tried a week ago when the sky was clear.

Turns out that February was 'very exceptional' because there was so little sunshine. Measurements of the Belgian meteorological institute (KMI) indicate that there were 33.1 hours of sunshine, instead of the normal 89.5 hours. I guess that it should not be surprising that this translates in a lot of cloudy nights as well.

I only started to become interested in astronomy and skygazing in early February, and I am happy to know that it will only get better from here!

Starship Asterisk*

Comet Lulin (2009 Feb 25)

Comet Lulin (2009 Feb 25)

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