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(meteorobs) Bopp/Hale Obser Mar 10 ZAYGE
March 10
Well, I got up after all to photograph the comet again from my observatory.
From that site I have only about 50 minutes to make any photographs before
the twilight interferes. I saw it low on the horizon at 3 am on my way to the
observatory, but it doesn't clear the local hills now until about 04:20
local. Twilight is strong by 05:10 am. So this doesn't give me much time to
do any photographing until it moves into the evening. When it did clear the
mountains, I had about 5 minutes before I was ready to start the camera.
During this time, I gathered in the details. The skies were clear with an LM
near 6.1. I gave the comet a magnitude of -0.2. I was able to see a 1.5
degree dust tail and a 10 degree ion tail with the naked eye. Thru the 7X50
binoculars, I can make out 6 degrees of dust tail and 10.5 degrees ion tail.
The ion tail tends to dispurse quite suddenly for me. Maybe if I played with
it longer, I would be able to follow a longer ion tail...but I had to guide
the telescope while making the camera exposures...Due to a difficulty with
the scope, I was only able to make one decent exposure with the 200 mm lens.
I had a botched up effort after 17 minutes and had to start over again...the
second exposure lasted 21 minutes. Tonight I will be observing meteors again
and then stop in time for perhaps one exposure of the comet using color film
this time. After that I will be taking a break for awhile...plus another work
cycle starts over again that tends to slow my time at the observatory.
I came across a problem that I've never experienced before...my inlaws have
some sheep. Yesterday they turned them lose in the field where my observatory
is at. This morning, I had to chase one of those knuckleheads away...they
were trying to eat one of the tires on my pickup truck. I couldn't have that.
It might be worth the entertainment thought to watch one of them bite all the
way thru however?
George Zay
32 North
116 West
Descanso, Calif