2023-01-09, 06:35 PM
(This post was last modified: 2023-01-09, 06:37 PM by theskyhound.)
The high Declination of this comet means it is going to be observable at unusually high altitudes in a dark sky, which is the main thing that makes it a viable naked-eye object. This is no horizon hugger.
But here's the real point: SkyTools can tell people whether or not it will be naked eye for them, personally, given their own pupil diameter and location, and it will also tell which dates to look on and at what time to have the best chance. Most people rely far too much on general predictions, and general statements, IMNSHO. This is the whole point of having SkyTools. You can make very specific predictions.
The SkyTools ephemeris will always calculate the true optimum time period. The optimum time is the optimum time, so you can't really apply a filter to it to say, "how about the next-best "sub optimum time" in the evening instead?" But that's ok. I'm not wild about getting up before dawn for this one. I noticed that, for me, the Begin time starts in the evening later in the month, which is weird for a comet. So I turned to another tool to figure out what's going on. I picked a night late in January on the Nightly Planner, selected the comet, and had a look at the NightBar. I discovered that comet was very strongly a morning object at that time. But as the nights went on, it became quickly available in the evening too, only the moon starts to interfere. Here is what the night of January 28 looks like for me:
Note the green "Best Quality" period. It runs for most of the night, despite the moonlight. What that means is that there is little difference in how visible the comet is going to be to the naked eye for nearly the entire night. I can even try in moonlight, provided I can find a spot to view the comet where the moon isn't shining in my eye.
Here is the very next night, with the moon later and brighter:
Now my chances of seeing the comet naked eye are less before 1 AM, but it may still be possible.
This comet is interesting to plan for, regardless of how you are going to view or image it. I hope this example helps someone out there make better use of SkyTools for planning for this comet.
But here's the real point: SkyTools can tell people whether or not it will be naked eye for them, personally, given their own pupil diameter and location, and it will also tell which dates to look on and at what time to have the best chance. Most people rely far too much on general predictions, and general statements, IMNSHO. This is the whole point of having SkyTools. You can make very specific predictions.
The SkyTools ephemeris will always calculate the true optimum time period. The optimum time is the optimum time, so you can't really apply a filter to it to say, "how about the next-best "sub optimum time" in the evening instead?" But that's ok. I'm not wild about getting up before dawn for this one. I noticed that, for me, the Begin time starts in the evening later in the month, which is weird for a comet. So I turned to another tool to figure out what's going on. I picked a night late in January on the Nightly Planner, selected the comet, and had a look at the NightBar. I discovered that comet was very strongly a morning object at that time. But as the nights went on, it became quickly available in the evening too, only the moon starts to interfere. Here is what the night of January 28 looks like for me:
Note the green "Best Quality" period. It runs for most of the night, despite the moonlight. What that means is that there is little difference in how visible the comet is going to be to the naked eye for nearly the entire night. I can even try in moonlight, provided I can find a spot to view the comet where the moon isn't shining in my eye.
Here is the very next night, with the moon later and brighter:
Now my chances of seeing the comet naked eye are less before 1 AM, but it may still be possible.
This comet is interesting to plan for, regardless of how you are going to view or image it. I hope this example helps someone out there make better use of SkyTools for planning for this comet.
Clear skies,
Greg
Head Dude at Skyhound
Greg
Head Dude at Skyhound