New comet - C/2006 M4 (Swan)

[Blue Fire]

Okay folks, get your scopes and cameras out! I just ran across these links:
http://spaceweather.com/
http://cometography.com/lcomets/2006m4.html
Apparently Comet Swan is now visible (binocs & and small scopes) in the northeast before dawn. I expect to see some pics of this comet by y'all soon! I love comets - they just seem to get my heart rate up so easily. And you can bet that I'll be out there hunting this one with my binocs. I might even be able to get my neighbor/nephew to set up his small scope and camera to capture it.

[dmill1220]

COMET SWAN: There's a new comet in the night sky, Comet Swan. It's a trifle too dim for naked-eye
> viewing, but it is an easy target for binoculars and small telescopes. Observers report a
> "spectacular" emerald-colored head and a long sinuous tail. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky
> maps and more information.
>
> AURORA WATCH: A solar wind stream hit Earth this weekend. The resulting geomagnetic storm was not
> very strong; nevertheless, auroras were photographed as far south as Wisconsin and Michigan in the
> United States. Meanwhile, another solar wind stream is coming and may spark a similar display on
> Oct. 3rd or 4th. Stay tuned to http://spaceweather.com for photos and forecasts.
Dennis

[Blue Fire]

Hi Dennis! I posted the news re comet swan a bit earlier in the Solar System subforum. Exciting, eh? I'll be out there looking for it, you can be sure! Hope you can get some pics of it to share with us.

And the Aurora alert is cool too! The last aurora I saw here in Western New York State was several years ago and it was absolutely gorgeous! I only knew about it because my brother had to go out at 3 a.m. to pick up his son from a late farm job. He happened to look up before he went back into the house and was astounded. We don't get to see many auroras in this area, but this one we later found out was visible way down to Texas. My brother and nephew got some great photos of it. Amazing stuff!

[stuart]

So, it doesn't look like this comet will be very visible from Colorado for at least 2 weeks because it's setting with the sun and rising with the sun ... and it'll be too close to the mountains for another two weeks. Maybe around Oct. 15th I'll be able to grab a photo, assuming it's still bright (looks like it's around 8.5 mag these days, but I don't see any magnitude projections anywhere).

What I'm really hoping is to photograph the M45-Moon transit on Oct. 9th, when, from Boulder, the Moon goes straight through the heart of the cluster.

Edited: Check out http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2006M4/2006M4.html for finder charts and a magnitude forecast. And numerical forecast for magnitudes at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephem...ts/2006M4.html (as opposed to a graph).

[Blue Fire]

Oh, good links Stuart! I've been looking for the orbital data to see if I can get my Red Shift 3 program to show comet swan. And, the finder charts will come in handy too.

I have a problem finding Swan now also - my north east view is blocked by a whole lot of tall trees. I will have to hope for clear skies and then drive a few miles to get a clear view - And that's if I can get up early enough to catch it in the next couple of days. But it should be visible in the evenings soon and will move towards the north west and under last star in the Big Dipper's handle according to the charts.

[ozzmoziz]

hey guys sucks for me couse its kind of in the north and i would have to go across the city at 5 am not to good for me , would love to take pics , from what i can see best time would be on the 15 or so..oh well i guess i have to wait till something comes up in the south

[Blue Fire]

Well I was out last night just after dark trying to spot comet Swan with my 12x binocs to no avail. And it was cloudy out this morning before dawn. Rats! According to the finder maps, I should be able to locate it both in the early evening and just before dawn. But I understand that it will slowly move westward, making it an evening-only sight soon. I'll keep trying. Anyone else having any luck?

[stuart]

Nah -- I'm not even gonna bother until it's an evening object ... 'bout mid-October when I'll try.

[dmill1220]

Hi Blue Fire
if I can get my CCD camera back in time for the evening showing I will surely give it a try!
Dennis

[dmill1220]

Check out the latest Image and orbital data from Nasa!
The Pic is the APOD taken Oct 4th and the orbital elements along with a neat animated Gif ( you need Java Enabled) has been posted in the solar system category!
loolks like a one time event only!
Dennis