Dave Mitsky
02-October-2006, 01:23 PM
I observed the recently discovered comet C/2006 M4 (SWAN) this morning from approximately 9:45 to 10:10 UT (5:45 to 6:10 a.m.) using the ASH 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain (http://www.astrohbg.org/gallery2/Tour-of-Naylor/17_inch) and its 5" f/5 achromatic finder scope. Fortunately, Comet SWAN M4 rose right where there's a gap in the Naylor Observatory's eastern treeline. Its position was in the neighborhood of 12h12.92m, +33d21.0'.
The coma was rather condensed and fairly bright. It appeared to have a slight pale blue tint and seemed to exhibit a hint of tail when I jogged the OTA back and forth, although the brightening sky made it hard to be certain about that. I used a 55mm University Optics Ploessl (118x), 45mm U.O. Optics Ploessl (144x), a 40mm U.O. MK-70 (162x), a 32mm U.O. Optics Koenig-II (202x) and a 25mm U.O. Optics MK-70 (259x) with the 17". The 45mm Ploessl gave me the most pleasing view of the new comet.
Dave Mitsky
The coma was rather condensed and fairly bright. It appeared to have a slight pale blue tint and seemed to exhibit a hint of tail when I jogged the OTA back and forth, although the brightening sky made it hard to be certain about that. I used a 55mm University Optics Ploessl (118x), 45mm U.O. Optics Ploessl (144x), a 40mm U.O. MK-70 (162x), a 32mm U.O. Optics Koenig-II (202x) and a 25mm U.O. Optics MK-70 (259x) with the 17". The 45mm Ploessl gave me the most pleasing view of the new comet.
Dave Mitsky