[BAA 00262] Comet 2006 P1 (McNaught)

[Rick]

A few observers have been able to find comet 2006 P1 (McNaught) in the twilight sky, and their observations indicate that the comet is perhaps 2nd magnitude. Assuming that the brightening continues it should become easier to locate. Observation is possible in both evening and morning twilight, with tail observation generally better in the evening twilight when the tail will be nearly vertical.  Exact magnitudes are difficult to predict, and probably even more difficult to estimate, as differential atmospheric extinction will be considerable.  When reporting magnitude estimates please give the exact time of observation, your location (latitude and longitude) and the comparison stars you have used.  Please submit observations, whether visual or CCD/DSLR images as soon as possible after you make them.

UK observers will have until around January 14th to see the comet in the twilight, with it then only visible in the evening.  It may be worth trying daylight observation around January 14, although the comet is then only 5 degrees from the Sun, so extreme care will be needed.  Mercury is close by, and it seems possible that the comet will be the brighter object.  Venus is rather more distant, but may be a comparable brightness.  The comet will be visible in the SOHO and STEREO coronagraphs from January 12 to 15, so for a real-time view see http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/c3/512/

After the 15th the comet is unlikely to be seen from the UK, and will be
picked up by Southern Hemisphere observers, where it may be a spectacular sight.

Location charts and the latest information is available on the Comet Section web page at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the weather situation improves!

Jon Shanklin,
jds at ast.cam.ac.uk or j.shanklin at bas.ac.uk
http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds
Comet Section Director, British Astronomical Association