Comet C/2010 U3 Boattini - at last!

[alanjgreen]

During February I have made three attempts to observe C/2010 U3 Boattini. The first attempt was a fail. The second attempt left me with two possible outcomes but I had a feeling for the "small fuzzy blob" that I had found but could not re-find!

Finally, I confirmed my sighting last night and I was very satisfied when I did

I use Sky Safari to control my push-to dobsonian and I am not convinced that the location in the app is spot-on. This comet has been a challenge to get into the field of view which is not usally the case with comets & Sky Safari?

Either way, if you are looking for this comet then I can confirm "IT IS THERE"!

 

My observation notes from 13 Feb 2018

C/2010 U3 (Boattini) – I set about searching for the mag 15 comet. I centered up the push-to with the ethos13 (x150) inserted and then moved to ethos10 (x200). I could not find the comet for definite. There were two possible glimpses (1) I did spot a small fuzzy blob near a patch of stars but failed to re-find it (it did not tally with the Sky Safari location but it was close) (2) I thought I saw a tail cutting through the fov (this was the same experience that I had on Sunday when searching for the same object) but the scale of the tail seemed too long and wide to be true. I will keep trying but could probably do with some better conditions.  

 

My observation notes 20 Feb 2018

C/2010 U3 Boattini – I can finally say that I have seen this comet! I managed to confirm the sighting from last week, it had only moved a slight amount and I confirmed this morning that it is very slow moving comet. In the E10 it was a faint small fuzzy patch below a small group of stars (which I recognized from last week). In the E8 (x250) it was an improved fuzzy patch (but still hard work) and finally in the E6 (x348) I got glimpses of a “dot” core but it was very hard to focus as this was too much magnification for the conditions. Still, I am pleased to have finally tied it down!

 

Here is the expected path for C/2010 U3 Boattini...

 

[Fredster1970]

Congratulations of finding the comet. Sounds like even a 20" dob struggled with it, so little point in me going out with the 6SE.....lol  Do you know its due to brighten at all?

[Guy Wells]

We measured the magnitude last night from the Northolt Branch Observatory. It was mag +17.5

CK10U030 KC2018 02 27.94756 05 38 27.01 +75 13 15.9          17.6 N      Z80

[Davey-T]

Shame, I can't get the obs'y scope on it at that elevation and it looks like it's going to lurk around the pole for a while.

Dave