Comet Christensen

[Talitha]

The comet's proper designation is C/2006 W3 (Christensen)... it's in Cepheus right now and will enter Cygnus next week. If you've got dark skies you might have fun tracking this one down. Nothing spectacular about it as far as comets go, but at least you'll be able to put another notch on your OTA.

A 32mm ep (31x_100' fov) was used to locate it, and the power was increased to 50x for the sketch. Btw, I never bother with the NELM but transparency was about average for my area. Also, I'd recommend a good chart for this one. I'd have probably passed it right by if not for my Millennium Star Atlas... what a great reference tool.

Speaking of tools.. the Sky Tools program lists the comet at 3.5' in size, and at magnitude 9.87. There's another number listed (21.2) which I believe is the mean surface brightness (the program lists galaxies' MSB followed by "mag/arc-sec²", so I'm assuming the comet was calculated the same way).

[beamish]

Good one Carol , though from my skies not a chance . Thanks for letting us know though!

[Doc]

I bet I also have nno chance. Even with 16" of aperture the LP will wash it out.

I'm glad you tracked it. Well done.

[Talitha]

Thanks!

Btw, here's what Sky Tools has to say regarding the MSB of the brighter Messier galaxies... looks like M76 is about the same as the comet.

M57 = 18.8

M27 = 20.4

M76 = 21.1

M104 = 21.6

M32 = 21.9

M82 = 22.0

M51 = 22.1

M81 = 22.5

M110 = 23.4

M33 = 23.5

M101 = 24.4

[jcm]

At 7 tonight the comet is as shown below.

John

PS it moves slowly south ( down ) after the time above.

[PhilM]

Nice sketch Carol - it captures it much better than my effort. Have you seen C/2006 OF2 Broughton yet? Very similar, though I thought a little brighter.

Doc, it was seen in my 8" so your 16" must have a good chance even if your skies aren't that great.

Phil.

[Talitha]

Thanks Phil, no I haven't seen OF2 Broughton yet. It was -9°C when the Christensen sketch was completed and the temp was still dropping. Rather than press on, I wimped out and went inside to sit by the woodstove. (insert :chicken: emoticon here )

[PhilM]

-9 ?!?!?!?

Woodburner would win everytime

[Doc]

Nice sketch Carol - it captures it much better than my effort. Have you seen C/2006 OF2 Broughton yet? Very similar, though I thought a little brighter.

Doc, it was seen in my 8" so your 16" must have a good chance even if your skies aren't that great.

Phil.

Roll on my next clear night and I'll try and track this comet down.