Comet PANSTARRS (March 2013)

[MarkS]

I made reference to this in another thread but thought it deserved it's own so it can be found easily.

This shows where to look for the comet on various days:
http://waitingforison.wordpress.com/comet-panstarrs/

Whether or not it will achieve naked eye brightness remains to be seen.

[The Thing]

This should be visible in a week or so. I won't see anything from Beckenham and am thinking of taking a trip to Salisbury Plain (flat, easy to get to) either 10th or 17th weekends.

Brades Acre Campsite is close to Stonehenge/A303 and has a field that is open to the west (where the comet will be just after sunset). Anyone else interested? I have emailed them to see if they are open.

Alternatively, Mick's back garden faces west...

[Rocket Pooch]

You don't need to go that far Seaford has a campsite smack on the beach and it faces west with nothing for about 40 miles.  Also it has a huge club house on site and 30 yards from fishing on the beach.

[Mike]

I'd be up for either of those weekends.

[MarkS]

How west does it need to be? (Trying to work out potential view from my place). 

[The Thing]

The comet will be near where the sun sets and the core will be a few degrees off the horizon with the tail rising into the night (we hope!).

[MarkS]

I've answered my own question using "The Sky" and PaintShopPro:



It shows the position at sunset on each day in March.  But, of course, it slides down and right after sunset!

[Tony G]

But this is what we'll actually see.

Tony G

[RobertM]

Looks uncannily like flocks of flying sheep to me Tony

I might catch a glimpse of the comet in Malta next weekend, that is, if the clouds don't follow me there !

Robert

[Rocket Pooch]

But this is what we'll actually see.

Tony G

Wow you can see clouds at night, should they not be ORANGE!

[MarkS]

But this is what we'll actually see.

[Carole]

As some of you know I am off the the Isle of Wight star party on Thursday 7th.  The trip was supposed to be only until 11th, but sadly now I also have to go to the funeral of my Aunt on the IOW which is on 13th, so my trip is extended by a few days. 

Although I won't be staying at the Astro camp for the extra days, if it's clear I will go back on 12th to the campsite as it's nice and dark and westerly facing, and see if I can get to see/image Panstarrs. 

Just seen a pig fly past the window.

Carole

[Mac]

I'll probably just go to the south downs, and have a look from there,
Nice and dark, and only 5 mins away.

Mac.

[The Thing]

You don't need to go that far Seaford has a campsite smack on the beach and it faces west with nothing for about 40 miles.  Also it has a huge club house on site and 30 yards from fishing on the beach.

Looks OK if it's the Buckle place. A bit close to civilisation and the ferry terminal so I presume it can't be considered a dark site(???). But it maybe great for targets to the south and west and must be heaps better than Beckenham.

Looking at the comet track and dates I think the weekend of the 17th is the best bet so I am going to plan on then unless Flossie is floating around the sky with 100000 of her chums looking for Tony.

[mickw]

The weather gods are taunting us again................

The couple of clear nights we've had are being followed by cloud just as the comet peeks above the horizon