C/2016 A8 (Linear)

[spike95609]

Just wondering if anyone's had any luck finding this comet. I've tried over the past three nights without success, not helped by the moon and thin cloud but conditions were good enough I thought. According to http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/ it is mag 11, and should be within the range of smaller telescopes. I can sometimes persuade myself that something faint and fuzzy is there, but can't be sure as I'm looking across the Milky Way so that could just be faint stars.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I am going to give this a try this evening. I will first go for the 80mm, and then move to the C8. It is in an area I know well, so that should help

[YKSE]

Thanks for the heads up, it seems like I may have a couple of chances these coming nights. Here's my estimated position for those having goto mounts:

around 23 O'clock CET:

12/9, 19h57m, 17°10';

13/9, 19h53m, 15°50';

14/9, 19h48m, 14°30'.

 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Just had a shot at it, but no luck. Transparency isn't perfect, and the moon is too bright. Might try again tomorrow, although the moon will be even brighter

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Checked out nearby M27, which was distinctly unimpressive, so conditions are definitely poor

[spike95609]

Thanks for taking a shot at it. It's only in the last few days that my skies have cleared, maybe I'd have had more luck at the start of the month when the comet was brighter and there was no moon. As you say with every passing day now it gets dimmer and the moon gets brighter.

[YKSE]

Got it!

Sky was a bit too bright at 10:30 (SQM 18.3), better when the Moon was lower or set, SQM 18.8 at 11:30 and 19.0 at 1:40. transparency above average (because of no dew?).

Here's a sketch(actually my first sketch) what I saw in C8:

My estimated postion was about 0.1° off. the dim star in lower middle was mistakenly suspected at first, but quickly dismissed since it became a point star in DV when up in 240x. 120x to 180x could see the comet in AV about 80% of the time. It was totally invisible around 240x. The position change during the time was quite obvious.

[Stu]

Great catch Yong! My skies aren't so far off that so might give it a go in the 12" if I get a clear night, moon might put paid to that though, we will see.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Great catch and very nice sketch

[spike95609]

Very well done! It's reassuring to know that it is actually there, just a shame that my skies aren't good enough to show it.