Yes, while Comet Holmes has been getting all the attention,
I've been wondering what kind of display LONEOS is putting on,
especially after reading the "Oct 26/27th 2007 -
Evening Tail Surprise!" sketches an Irish amateur
Martin Mckenna made of comet C/2007 F1 LONEOS posted
at
My C/2007 F1 LONEOS Observations
http://www.nightskyhunter.com/My%202007%20F1%20LONEOS%20Sesions.html
Mckenna writes:
"...On this crisp evening I decided to focus my
attention on C/2007 F1 LONEOS which is due to vanish
from UK skies on Oct 27th. I have not seen the comet
for some time and despite several evenings of
unsuccessful attempts due to poor sky conditions I had
considered the comet gone. This evening while
conducting a vertical search through the western
twilight with a 8.5" F/7 reflector with 32mm I swept
up LONEOS at 19.34 BST. The coma was of moderate size
and well condensed, circular in shape, grey-white in
colour with bright disk-like central condensation. The
coma was viewed through gaps between distant tree
branches which shared the telescopic field. What
caught my attention was the wonderful colourless
straight Ion tail extending to the E of N for a
minimum distance of 2 degrees although I suspected it
to be much longer!. I followed the tail across the sky
with the telescope and could see many streamers. The
tail was very bright and looked like a beam of light.
After several minutes the coma set leaving a wonderful
search light beam extending up from the tree tops!. It
looked like a minature 'Great Comet'!. Also seen in
B50. This is a very beautiful comet and one which I
think is currently under observed by many people which
is a shame. I had LONEOS in view for 9 minutes before
it set but before it did I glanced to the NE sky and
seen 17P/ Holmes with the naked eye - two bright
comets visible at the same time!. My 11th observation.
Mag: 5.0 Dia: 3' D.C:7 Tail: + 2 degrees. Two
sketches. One original and another inverted."
There's a good image of it with a background galaxy
at:
http://www.aerith.net/pictures/jager/2007F120071008lrgbnet.jpg
Orbit simulation at:
http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?orb=1;sstr=2007+F1
Chart at
http://www.cometchasing.skyhound.com/comets/2007_F1.gif
but it's getting close to being out of date.
Heavens-above has finder charts at
http://www.heavens-above.com/
Mike
David Brokofsky said:
Hi all,
With all the commotion over 17p/Hlolmes, I was wondering if anyone has had a look at any additional comets over the last week or so? I hear that C/2007 F1 Loneos is pretty bright assuming one can catch it before it sets shortly after sunset. I haven't had a look as the W. horizon from where I'm at is pretty cluttered. Anyone else?
