[GNHLUG] Comet McNaught

[Bill Sconce]

You may have heard that January 2007 has presented us with a
surprise, an exceptionally bright comet, discovered only in
August 2006.  Called 2006 P1, or Comet McNaught, it's now
visible to the naked eye.  It was tonight, anyway!

Here's some stuff:
    http://skytonight.com/observing/home/5133461.html
    http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070109.html

Janet and I went out to Curtis Hill in Lyndeborough, and
from there the period of visibility was from 5:00PM to
5:15PM local time (EST).

I'd concur that the directions in the skytonight.com reference
would get you there, although we spotted it first by eye.
Venus appears solidly (perhaps 10 minutes before the comet)
and is a good visual anchor point.  (The pictures show Venus
just a little higher than 10 degrees, which is accurate, but
the picture makes it LOOK higher.  10 degrees is low -- and
the comet is lower still.)

It IS imperative that your view to the southwest be unobstructed,
right down to the horizon, and that the weather be clear.  (Can't
be sure about the latter - tomorrow's forecast includes chance of
snow showers, and the weather around sunset scattered at 4500.
My personal forecast is that it'll be dead clear (and blustery
COLD), and that the scattered deck will permit a view underneath.

Anyway, tonight was, and tomorrow will be, the best chances, with
Thursday a runner-up.  If you're one of our geek friends, or one
of our amateur radio friends, or one of our pilot friends...
well, good luck -- and try to stay warm!

-Bill and Janet
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