Comet Catalina (C2013 US10) January 2016

[DSO Dave]

Hello forum observers.

Waiting for a peep at Catalina.

Clouded out here in Northern Ca since 1-2-2016 .

Got in some decent views in 13" Coulter on NYE and NYD between 2-4:30 am.

Was within 26arc min of Arcturus,the brightness was interfering with view.

Looked very large and diffuse, almost like a unresolved globular at 78X

Couldn't even catch hint of tail(s) however was irregular in shape.

Was a nice object even in the 80mm finder (off another scope)

Hoping to catch maybe at 4:00 am or so when clear out.

Anyone else drooling in anticipation on this one?

Please share your experience this year with Catalina.

If a Catalina thread is already up, please excuse.

Thanks group.
DSO Dave

[Steve Gottlieb]

The last time I was able to do any observing was January 1st and it clouded up after midnight (from Sonoma county). Lots of clouds and rain since!

[obrazell]

thought you needed that in California Steve :-)

Owen

[akarsh]

I think Steve will settle for rain during the day and clear skies during the night...

I missed on Catalina too, because although I had clear skies and Bootes was high up, I forgot that there was a comet in my deep-sky frenzy... who knows, maybe I'll remember to see it in February.

Clear (Night) Skies

Regards
Akarsh

[Steve Gottlieb]

I think Steve will settle for rain during the day and clear skies during the night...

I missed on Catalina too, because although I had clear skies and Bootes was high up, I forgot that there was a comet in my deep-sky frenzy

I'm guessing that deep-sky frenzy was between semesters at school?

[akarsh]

I'm guessing that deep-sky frenzy was between semesters at school?

Pretty much! School is about to start, so I think you'll hear less and less from me

[RolandosCY]

Comets should really be considered "deep sky objects", for although they are solar system objects they do appear similar to deep sky objects (think Messier!)...
Cat1a.jpg
Cat110116a1a.jpg

[DSO Dave]

Thanks RoyldosCY , great drawings. Look like photos to me!
I hope to see some tail if we got a clear window in Ca.

After Moon is out of way not sure how much Catalina will fade by then
Hope my view is anything like your drawings, from a good site -with decent elevation.(with my 15" and a little imagination)

Be waiting,

Dave

[Preston Pendergraft]

I caught it last night, and it is still a nice bright binocular comet.

[DSO Dave]

I though I might update my original post.

After weeks of ill weather, and last nights observing night scrapped due to wind-
Was able to get out with the 15" to a new darker observing spot to see Catalina fading.
Barely though, large tree had fell across forest service road.

Seeing was decent to very good, dead clear and 22% humidity at 47 degrees.
In a spot in Mendocino National Forest at about 4350ft close to Pinnacle Rock


Still did not observe the tail distinct like in RolandosCY's sketch
Still large and fairly bright.

Was dark enough to the North to catch C/2014 S2 even at about 9 degrees altitude
Looked good for being so low.

Best surprise was to see P/Ikeya Murakami for first time.
It appeared next to another object of similar brightness.
Apparently It has split?
Nothing near it brighter than mag 12 (NGC 2964-NGC2968)
The object near it had to be closer to 9th or 10th mag

Perhaps someone will confirm with their telescope before it changes too much.

Back to actual "Deep-Sky Objects"

Dave

[Vic]

Hi dave!
The comet 331P/Ikeya-Murakami is fragmenting now but all of the A–F components are too faint (17–20 mag) to observe visually in 15". There are no other reports of a megaoutburst so far.
But there are several more bright comets reachable using your telescope:
C/2013 X1 (PanSTARRS) in Pegasus (~8.5 mag),
C/2014 W2 (PanSTARRS) in Draco (~12.5 mag),
81P/Wild in Taurus (~13.5 mag) and
116P/Wild in Libra (~13.5 mag).
Anyway, I consider comets DSO (not so deep but definitely Dark Sky Objects).
Vic

[DSO Dave]

Hi Vic and group.

I was overzealous(and)or under-informed.

Appears after closer examination of my chart I printed for the night-
plus a visual memory of where my scope was pointed,I have no choice but to insert foot in mouth here.


Had to have been 2964/2968. (not P/2010 V1)
Brighter than I remember it last.

Was wondering why the scope was a bit East in the telrad from where my software displayed the Comet.

Not comparing field stars, I was sweeping and decided "yeah thats it"!

That's why we call it Amateur Astronomy?

Dave

15" Obsession