----------------------------------------------------- ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (Ireland's National Astronomy Club, Magazine and Shop) --------------3,000 members and growing-------------- I simply had to share this report from Martin McKenna who has dark rural Irish skies! Last night after most of our Comet Watches all around Ireland were washed out by the storm, the clouds miraculously parted, at least over Leinster and several of us got to see the Comet at its closest (about 2 degrees) to the Pleiades - an amazing sight in 10x50B with both tails visible, even from the suburbs of Dublin. Unforgettable. Martin saw the Comet a few days earlier and sent this report: Hi David! Observed comet Q2 Machholz on the night of 5/6.1.04 at 00.28 with the naked eye. Q2 was 5* below open cluster M45, a striking sight, the only bright object in that area. After very good dark adaption i could make out the ion tail as a beautiful neon blue streak pointing to the NE 5 degrees long to the E of the Pleiades. The tail was broad as it left the coma and decreaed in diameter with distance until it ended in a point. This was an incredible sight! I reckoned that the tail would pass over or close to M45 in the days ahead, todays image of the comet on www.spaceweather.com shows the ion tail touching the reflection nebula around the star Merope. On 2 occasions i also suspected i briefly glimpsed the dust tail as a thin grey streak to the SE. With the naked eye the coma is large, grey,cirular and well condensed however through 10X50 binos it was a fantastic green, elongated and sporting lovely long blue streamers at various position angles from the the central condensation. Comet is a real treat, we are so lucky to see it high in the evening sky as it approaches perihelion. Most bright comets stay close to the sun, visible only in the twilight skirting the horizon leaving a short window for observation but this guy is visible until the early hours of the morning giving many people time to get a decent look. I was able to introduce a friend to the comet who has never been interested in astronomy before, i told him to look below the 7 sisters and he spotted the comet right away with the naked eye which amazed him, he commented how people in the nearby passing cars had no idea that there was a new visitor sitting in the sky so bright. This comet is a great way of getting new people interested in astronomy. Mag:3.7 Dia:30' DC:6/ Ion tail 5* NE Dust tail 50' SE (16" Reflector) *Also seen a tumbling naked eye satellite pass in front of the false nucleus! Martin Mc Kenna Now, you don't have to have as much equipment or send in as detailed a report but even if you see the comet with the naked eye do email us at observe@astronomy.ie with your name, location and a description in your own words so we can include your sighting in our report. Those of you who want to go further can read some notes I put online about observing comets at: http://astronomy.ie/dm/observingcomets.rtf And here's a few photos from around the internet to make you gasp: http://spaceweather.com/swpod2005/08jan05/candy.jpg http://www.astrostudio.at/Astrofotos/aufnahme.php?a_id=347&page=1&kategorie=&k_id=39 http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2005/07jan05/rudz.jpg If you see any other really nice ones please let me know. COMET WATCH JANUARY 13 IN AID OF TSUNAMI VICTIMS We have decided to use dedicate the Comet Watches (11 so far) running all around Ireland next January 13 to raise funds for the Tsunami victims. For details of the Watch nearest you see www.astronomy.ie and bring as many people along as you can. - David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland - your national astronomy club & magazine. Astronomy Ireland is a non-profit club for EVERYONE interested in space. www.astronomy.ie/sub to join AI and get our monthly colour magazine. Or simply post 40euro to: P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5.