SkyTools offers many unique features for observing comets not found in any other software. Comet observing is finally made easy because you will know what to expect in your telescope with your light pollution. 

Exclusive features not found in other software:

  • Magnitudes derived from recent observations

  • Coma diameters and tail lenghts derived from recent observations

  • Accurate Visual difficulty estimates from our contrast model

  • Custom observing synopses

  • Unique daily optimum viewing time charts 

Finding Comets

With the aid of the multi-view telescope (or binocular) finder charts it is a simple matter even for a beginner to find a naked eye, telescopic or binocular comet.  The charts are true simulations that display what you can expect to see in the eyepiece, at your location with your instrument.  Everything from light pollution to the experience of the observer is taken into account.  Click on the thumbnail to see a plot of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as seen in a TV 100 binoculars from a dark site.  The comet can be plotted every night at the time when it is best observed. All you have to do is print the chart and then go out and look at the time indicated for each night. 

  

Time Wasted on Fickle Comets

You can rely on SkyTools to remain current. Comet observers around the world sometimes turn their telescopes to view a bright comet only to see nothing.  Unknown to them, the comet had disintegrated and was no longer detectable. Other software products and websites often continue to show a comet as an easy object for small telescopes for weeks and even months after it was known to have disappeared.

Why?  Because the others obtain their comet data directly from the Minor Planet Center, which is fine for generating precise positions.  But the magnitude parameters published with these positions are often out of date or in error.  In the ever-changing world of comet observing, knowing the current size and magnitude of a comet is essential.  This information can only be obtained from recent observations and SkyTools is the only software that integrates these recent observations into its easily accessible online database.

Is that Comet Visible in My Telescope?

What makes visual comet observing frustrating is that the big diffuse comets are far more difficult to detect than the small compact ones.  Even with an accurate magnitude it is difficult to know if a given comet will be visible to you.  SkyTools uses a contrast algorithm to take the guesswork out of comet observing. It predicts how difficult it will be to detect a comet under your conditions with your telescope/binoculars and it accurately depicts the comet's diameter, giving you a clear idea of what to look for in the eyepiece.  

When and Where Should I Look?

The SkyTools planning tools really shine for comets.  Quickly find out which nights are best to observe your comet, what time you should go out, and either create a custom finder chart or drive your computer controlled scope right to it. Remember, this isn;t a generic calculation. It takes into account your light pollution, telescope, the size and concentration of the comets coma when making predictions. These calculation are not done by anyone else. 

  

Custom Observing Synopses

SkyTools can tell you, in words, everything you need to know about observing a comet:

 

On this night C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is best visible between 04:19a and 05:49a, with the optimum view at 05:21a. It was in Corona Borealis, high in the sky in complete darkness. It is obvious visually in the Televue 101. The Radian 8mm eyepiece is ideal. It is magnitude 7.5 with a diameter of 4.1 arc minutes. 

In the following 30 days this object is obvious visually from January 2-4, and again from January 11 on, with the best view coming on January 30. During this period it will brighten rapidly and reach peak altitude of 61° on January 21.

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) reached perihelion in mid January. On January 12 this comet passed within 0.3 AU of the earth. It reached maximum brightness of magnitude 5 in late January. The best visibility from Death Valley, California near maximum brightness was predicted to be in early February when it was approximately magnitude 5. On February 1 this comet was moving quickly across the sky at a peak rate of 16.7 "/min PA 211.3.

Logging Your Observations

Once you have made your observation the SkyTools logbook provides an ideal means of recording what you saw.  Use the Night Log to record the entirety of the observing experience, such as that time when those Raccoons nearly scared you into dropping your Nagler!