Comet Macholtz

[geoffatstanpit]

Anyone seen the comet Macholtz? Nothing dramatic, in fact just a blob really, just up and left a bit from the Pleiades last night. Quite distinct through 8x30s.

Wonder why it hasn't got a tail like the last one?

Geoff

 

[bruce]

it does, but is faint green, hard to see, but will show up if photographed , asa 1600 and 45 sec or longer exposure at f2 or faster.

 

[ParaHandy]

Re: Comet MacGregor ...

can you see what outboards are fitted ...

(sorry, in bad taste etc etc grovelling ... !!)

 

[Viking]

I'll have a look, when! the sky clears!!!

 

[Spyro]

Ok I understand the up and left a bit but where is Pleiades? I'm familiar with the Plough and Orions belt, can you direct me from there?

 

[bruce]

when orion is high in south, look up and north to about same angle as orion, looks like a small dipper, not either big or little dipper, a thumb at arms length would cover the group. or, 12 oclock being straight up, look around 10 oclock north of verticle. pleiades is very noticable and easy to remember, think 5 bright stars make the 'dipper' it is located 'above' the north star, between it and verticle

 

[Colin_S]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/print/science/space/myspace/nightsky/observingnotes.shtml

 

[geoffatstanpit]

They are the very distinctive group of lots of little stars very close together, half a dozen or so with the naked eye and hundreds through bins. About south-west at the moment and it's lovely and clear in that direction. Go right along orion's belt for about 3 orion widths and up a bit.

Geoff

 

[Shakey]

Anyone watched 'The Sky At Night' recently?

It seems to me that they're lining up that Mr Bean geek to replace noted war hero, xylophonist and xenophobe Patrick Moore when he pops his clogs.

I think most of us here could do a better job than that gimp.

I mean, sailors know all about stars and stuff don't they?

 

[Sgeir]

[ QUOTE ]
looks like a small dipper, not either big or little dipper

[/ QUOTE ]
That's pretty clear then. But I've always wanted to ask about this - is the dipper the same as the Plough? Or is it something totally different?

 

[Shakey]

There are two dippers - the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. Both these terms are American in origin apparently.

The Plough is the UK term for the Big Dipper.

However, none of the above are astronomically correct. The Plough / Big Dipper is basically the brightest and most obvious stars in the constellation of Ursa Major (Latin for the Big Bear). The Little Dipper and its associated stars is the constellation of Ursa Minor.

The tail of the Little Bear is the star known as Polaris, which marks True North for all intents and purposes.

The two end stars of The Plough point towards Polaris, and the handle of The Plough describe an arc that points towards the bright star called Arcturus.

Now can I have that job on 'The Sky At Night' please?

 

[peterb]

Job at Sky at Night

No job yet. You should have pointed out that in some latitudes the Plough dips below the horizon, hence giving it the name "Big Dipper" (or so I've been told).