Comet Garradd...if you have access to a telescope

[Jean in Wisc]

Garradd, pronounced Garr---add. One syllable is not pronounced more strongly than the other. I asked. The man who found it emailed me with the pronunciation of his name (it is slaughtered by just about everyone).

 

Anyway...here is a map of where to find it in Hercules: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/128836743.html

 

I have a 8" reflector and it is fairly easy to find if the night is clear, but you have to get out as close to astronomical twilight (6:15 to 7:00 PM, perhaps) as you can or it will get too low in the western horizon. It looks a lot like the photo on this link IF you squint at the photo--a camera picks up a lot more light, so through the tele, it looks like a small fuzzy blob of dim light...sometimes you can imagine it has a tail.

 

:DJean

[KristenR]

Thanks Jean!! BTW I love finding folks with a passion for astronomy too. I was just checking out your blog! Happy gazing!

[Jean in Wisc]

Thanks Jean!! BTW I love finding folks with a passion for astronomy too. I was just checking out your blog! Happy gazing!

 

Same here--I'd love to find a few folks nearby who would join me on my hill for some star gazing. The clubs I attend are too far away for frequent viewing with others.

 

My poor blog. It has been ignored for way too long. My photography, too. I need to drop something in my schedule, but I'm tied into them until the end off the school year. Ugh.

 

But I was out with my telescope last night...too light in the west for Garradd. I need to get the city over there to turn out the lights.

 

I decided to start doing the clubs for Astronomical League (http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/AlphabeticObservingClubs.html ) and started with the Messier objects. I've found them, but always in the rush of a marathon. It is fun to enjoy just a few in an evening and really look at them.

 

Blow those clouds away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

:) Jean