Heads up! Binocular comet in dawn sky

[BinocularSky]

Comet P/252 (LINEAR) has brightened to over 100x what was expected and is a binocular object in the dawn sky, but is fading rapidly adn the Moon doesn't help. Finder chart at:

http://binocularsky.com/binoc_transient.php

[Knighty2112]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll check it out in the morning as long as the clouds clear away.  

[Knighty2112]

Position at 5:30am Tuesday morning from Skysafari.

 

[andrew63]

This is a handy map with a 10x50 field.  It's quite diffuse, so the moon might make it hard to spot.

 

https://astronomynow.com/2016/03/27/see-comet-252p-emerge-in-the-uk-predawn-sky/

 

andrew

[Pete Presland]

What lovely grouping, well worth a look! thanks for the heads up.

[BinocularSky]

Not easy this morning, owing to strips of thin cloud, but fleetingly obviously visible. Xi Oph acted as a useful intermediate marker on the hop from Saturn. 

[Paul73]

Hi Guys 

One for those who have seen it. What sort of size Is the comet? Visible in standard 10x50's?

Paul

 

[BinocularSky]

Used 16x70 - looked like a small fuzzy blob about the same size as M53 looks in a Moonless sky in the same bino. 

[Davey-T]

Stayed up all night to image it and just before it was due it clouded over, typical.

Dave

[Knighty2112]

Had great views last night of Jupiter which was very steady again allowing over x200 power on it, then a great view also of M81 & M82 also, which where awesome in the binoculars, and just as good when I finally homed in on them with the telescope, which took a while as they where close to the zenith range of my stand.

Went in at 1:30am, and set the alarm for 5:15am to try to view the comet, but alas there was too much cloud in the southern part of the sky, so went back to bed instead. 

[starnut]

I managed to see it this morning I had to look through the tree branches to see it.

[Davey-T]

This is all I got after staying up all night the clouds arrived.

Moon, Mars, Saturn no comet 

Pretty pink colour from the LP filter but left it in 

Dave

[Paul73]

Nice picture Mr T!

I had lovely clear sky at 5am this morning. But, I got so distracted looking at a super steady Saturn and a huge Mars, that I completely forgot the comet. Poo....

However, I have never seen so much detail on Mars before!! Amazing.

Paul

[goodricke1]

Still easily visible last night in 15x70s, holding its brightness much longer than predicted.

[Davey-T]

2 minutes ago, goodricke1 said:

Still easily visible last night in 15x70s, holding its brightness much longer than predicted.

Not through the clouds it isn't

Got up three mornings running to try

Dave

[BinocularSky]

Just had it in a good sky for the first time. Huge in the 16x70s - easily 20 arcmin across, maybe a bit more. Also tried the 6.5x32 so I could report for the small bino users - very easy indeed, & obvious.

[Knighty2112]

6 hours ago, BinocularSky said:

Just had it in a good sky for the first time. Huge in the 16x70s - easily 20 arcmin across, maybe a bit more. Also tried the 6.5x32 so I could report for the small bino users - very easy indeed, & obvious.

Sadly, cloud in the morning so far has stopped me looking for this. FLO's clear outside app doesn't list any clear mornings in my location for the week ahead, so not looking good for me to try to nab it alas!  

[Stu]

Tried for this at 4.30am this morning (baby awake!), but no luck. It seemed reasonably dark and the transparency was ok, although not brilliant. Is this finder chart from SkySafari correct?

[SilverAstro]

4 hours ago, Stu said:

Tried for this at 4.30am this morning (baby awake!), but no luck. It seemed reasonably dark and the transparency was ok, although not brilliant. Is this finder chart from SkySafari correct?

I've not seen it myself yet (no baby !) but I think it agrees with the chart at Skyhound if that is any consolation :-

http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/comets/252P.pdf

http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

Good luck , ,

[andrew63]

hi Stu

That's about the same position as i get in stellarium with 10x50 field. I had a look last night but no joy, although it was low down around midnight.  This is the heavens above chart.

http://www.heavens-above.com/comet.aspx?cid=252P&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=UCT

 

andrew

[andrew63]

Just had my first view of comet 252P Linear in 10x50s.  It's was quite a faint large circular patch, just discernible against the background sky.  Handily placed about a degree from Sigma Oph.

 

andrew

[BinocularSky]

Just observed in 16x70s. Much fainter than the last time I saw it, but still large and quite easy. 

[LukeSkywatcher]

Great stuff. Now where do i find Sigma Oph?.

Scrap the above question. I didnt see the rest of the posts in this thread before i posted. I also have no workable view south.