Something seen in Orion.

[dragonfly]

Have just this minute registered on this site.

I'm a part time, UK amateur observer with limited knowledge.

I think i may have seen my 1st Comet tonight.

At ~ 8.30pm........in Orion........roughly between Rigel and Saiph........under e Ori.....'ish ! (as best i can identify the location)

Can't find it in any of my software atlas maps, etc. so was wondering what i was looking at ?

Could swear i could see material streaming off as the tail.

Could'nt ID the source as skies closed in and clouded over.

Was i just seeing things or was it real.

[Mr Q]

Probably comet Lovejoy, presently at around 9th mag. and fading to about 12th by month's end.

Here's a finder chart (Orion appears at the top). Is what you saw at the date line track position? http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/comets/2011_W3.pdf

[stolenfeather]

Interesting dragonfly! My skies were littered with clouds tonight as I was outside,. I wish I had seen it as well.

Isabelle

[dragonfly]

Thanks for the replies.............

I don't have a 'GoTo' system.

I was using a Dob. Newt. 8" (Meade Lightbridge 8") with a 40mm Plossl lens.

I'm purely amateur, so i tend to wander about a bit.

It's quite possible i was actually looking somewhere other than where i thought i was looking.

What i saw (with averted vision) was very faint.

If Lovejoy fits my scopes magnitude range then that was possibly what i could see but i can't rule out problems with the Scope; Smudges on lens, Optical oddities, etc. It's collimated regularly though.

I'll put this down as 'unconfirmed' and wait for another.

The help is much appreciated.

[Moonshane]

On the assumption you are in the right sort of spot, then could it be NGC1999? I'd have thought the comet was unobservable given the conditions and our northerly latitudes?

[nmoushon]

I think moonshane is right. NGC1999 is right in the area you decsribed. Could be wrong but my money on that.

[DaveT]

LOL -- it was planet x LOL

Seriously -- would be interested to find out so i can go the hunt myself

Best WIshes

Dave