Flamsteed Astronomy Society

From Anthony Stokes, December 17, 2004 —

 

2230hrs on Thursday 16th December was my first opportunity (English weather allowing) to observe the newcomer comet Machholz ( C2004 Q2 )

This comet was at maximum elevation of  > 22 degrees over horizon (due south) circa 2242 hrs GMT in the constellation Eridanus, a little preceding Lepus.

From finding the northern bright stars of Lepus south of Orion - it was easy to star-hop westwards past the 4th magnitude orange star 53 Eridani and so to 7th magnitude HIP 2084, beside which (south preceding) was the large prominent fuzzy object 'Comet Machholz' at once obvious and unmistakeable in 8 x 40 binoculars at 30Km east of London ( Brentwood, Essex). It is currently about 5th magnitude and tending to be brighter than predicted. By 2330 hours Machholz was noticeably decreasing in elevation and moving into ever more hazy and orange-tinged sky, yet remained obvious in 8 x 40 binoculars. I took the opportunity also to view with 11 x 80 tripod-mounted binoculars with which 8th magnitude field stars near the comet also were obvious, despite the readily apparent scattered orange street lighting.

Comet Machholz will continue to move northwards until the second week of March 2005, becoming circumpolar for Londoners from mid January.  Already a naked-eye object from dark locations, there is some hope that it will also become visible without optical aid even in parts of outer London. A positional ephemeris is published at http://skyandtelescope.com or elsewhere on the internet and on printed journal pages.

Observing News from Anthony Stokes

Comet Machholz observed & planets in view

From Martin Male, December 17, 2004 —

 

Just had a look myself - it is indeed a bright object, just on the edge of naked eye visibility (can we say that in these politically correct times?) from here, but with the moon out of the way later, it will indeed be easily visible without optical aid.

Spectacular weather here today - barometric pressure dropped from 1005mb to 985mb in 5 hours, then back up to 1000mb in 5 hours. Wind gusted to 55 knots (Beaufort force 11 - violent storm!!) at 1330 today. At around the same time the temperature dropped 5 degrees C in 30 minutes!

From Anthony Stokes, December 27, 2004 —

 

Just a  reminder for those looking skywards at around 0700—0715 from in– or near–London or London’s latitude, that the last week of 2004 offers an opportunity of easily seeing all the planets [Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn] in their ‘correct’ order, from southeast to west along the ecliptic — Ophiuchus for Mercury & Venus at 22 degrees preceding the Sun, Scorpius for Mars at 35 degrees preceding the Sun, Virgo with Jupiter at 80 degrees before the Sun, and Gemini with Saturn in the far west.  First planet to fade from view with advancing twilight is Mars.

It’s not often that one gets to see all the ‘classical’ planets visible in under a minute and in their ‘correct’ order, of distance from the Sun, along the ecliptic.

Comet Machholz also continues  to be well visible in binoculars or telescope circa 2200 hours, just moving north from Eridanus into Taurus at 4 hours RA despite the very bright Moon at high elevation.