Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS has been on the NH news since last weekend, with the newsies saying that we should have good visibility. Last weekend it was supposed to be visible to the naked eye in the western sky.
Last weekend I had clouds in what I consider the west from my house. I couldn't find it for anything. I didn't think much of it since it was supposed to be low on the horizon and there were banks of clouds right there. Of course the rest of the sky was totally clear.
During the week, the comet was to get higher in the sky - and dimmer. I dutifully went out each evening between 7 and 7:30, but with no luck. Even with binoculars I couldn't find it. Then, on the local TV channel's "ULocal" FB page, I started seeing tips on how to find it. The first tip was to use a compass app and find 273* west. I downloaded an app and found that I was WAY off from what my assumption of west is.
I consider the front of the house to face west. I knew the house was a few ticks off from the cardinal points, but boy, was I in for a big surprise. The house actually faces 306* NW so 273* west, is actually a few ticks counterclockwise to what I consider the SW corner of the house.
And naturally, that is the worst viewing direction (except the back of the house). 273W is right between the new house beside me and the very tall house across the street from it. The house across the street always has a spotlight on until late night. The house beside me is better, with a motion detection light over the garage doors (that face my house). Unfortunately that motion detection picks up every car headlight that passes by (regardless of direction of travel) and stays on for 60 seconds. At that time of day, cars go by at least every 30-90 seconds, the light is constantly on.
I tried to see the comet from (what I have been calling) the south side of the house. But that wasn't working for me. I tried a bunch of different spots around my house and finally found that if I stood at the NW corner of my house, I could just see the comet thru binoculars. It was very dim - although fighting the light from the street lamp across from my house did not help. Anyway, I present to you the ONLY picture that came out where the comet is visible.
What's that? You can't see it? Well, neither could I until I lightened, cropped and zoomed in. The comet is the light smudge, in the center, to the right of the star.
At least you tried, thanks. I did not. Great photo - lol.
Posted by: Cop Car | October 20, 2024 at 07:28 PM
You have way more important things to worry about than looking for a comet.
Posted by: bogie | October 21, 2024 at 03:06 AM
It's to laugh about, now, but I recall how upset your dad was when I awoke you and Dudette to look at a comet out the sliding glass door on Sunrise in the 1960s or 1970s. I no longer recall which comet that was. I'm not sure that I saw another comet before the 1980s, when I lived in ABQ and went out in the boonies to get a "good look" at Halley's Comet through my binoculars.
Posted by: Cop Car | October 21, 2024 at 11:05 PM