Comet Lovejoy

I've been wondering what this 'star' was since seeing something - more blueish than green - near the south horizon from the beginning of last week.

Will get my binoculars out in the next day or so.
 
As usual I expect to see nowt here ..
I have no clear view South low to the horizon that is..
and so much light pollution it's simply soul destroying..
In these days of restrictions on public spending ...couldn't we have non essential street lighting turned off for a few hours ..in the wee small hours ?
'twould save a few bob ..and give potential stargazers in the suburbs a chance..

So just how high above the horizon is the max at my location ...at what time ...and how many degrees East or West of Due South..
??
 
Vipersan said:
So just how high above the horizon is the max at my location ...at what time ...and how many degrees East or West of Due South..
??
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Rising in the east at 5ish , max altitude is 40-45 degrees altitude, due south at about 2000 uk time. Sets a few hours later in the west

Find Orion (For anyone that doesnt know Orion its a dead easy one - nice and bright - the 3 stars in the belt are unmistakable), move a handspan to the right and you will see the obvious "Vee" shape in Taurus. Follow the direction the "Vee" is pointing a few inches and you will be in the right general area.


Its raining here tonight so no chance of another looky :(
 
Analoguesat said:
Comet Lovejoy is an exceptionally easy binocular object
Click to expand...

Not with the ones I bought from the second hand shop the other day for £3.99, I can see double through them without having a pint:D,

Its raining here atm lets hope things change in a few hours time:)
 
martin-f said:
Not with the ones I bought from the second hand shop the other day for £3.99, I can see double through them without having a pint:D,

Its raining here atm lets hope things change in a few hours time:)
Click to expand...

They have probably been dropped hard & the prisms are out of alignment. If you are lucky they might just have been dropped on the front and the screw threads holding the first lens have jumped a thread. Ive done that on one of my old binocs, but just gently unscrewing the lens mount assembly and putting it back in sorted that out.

(It made some horrible noises as I unscrewed the threads, but all was good afterwards!)
 
Nice clear starry night here, have spotted the three stars that are orions belt very low on my horizon, how low or high is the comet compared to the top or bottom star in the belt?

I know must look to the right of the belt.

Regards
 
skomedal said:
Nice clear starry night here, have spotted the three stars that are orions belt very low on my horizon, how low or high is the comet compared to the top or bottom star in the belt?

I know must look to the right of the belt.

Regards
Click to expand...

A better map - find the obvious Vee in Taurus (the point will be on its side pointing rightish at this time of the evening)

http://astronomynow.com/wp-content/...ovejoy_finder_chart_7-16Jan2015_greyscale.jpg


On the map the two stars labelled "E & O" in greek script just above the 5 degree field of view circle are fairly bright and theres not much around there of equal brightness.
 
Orion I know well ..
Sadly....
Looking due south out of my back bedroom window ..
Light pollution horrendous ...
Can't see any stars ..too much cloud ...
Tonight is a bust..
No change there then.
:(
 
On that pic the Taurus Vee is lying on its side up near the top right hand corner of the pic.

If you take a similar pic with that near the left hand side of the image you should nail it :D
 
And its lashing it down again here so no comet watching for me tonight :(
 
Also no chance from my location :(, what time is it visible to please the clouds are breaking a little at the moment.
 
Not sure the exact time but it should probably still be well above the horizon for at least a couple of hours after midnight
 
Clear skies here and could clearly see Orion's belt but nothing that could pass for a comet in its vicinity.
 
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