[Chaos-l] PANSTARRS observed from Rocky Point NC w/ 10x50s

[Jon Stewart-Taylor]

Hi all.  I was successful in finding comet PANSTARRS from here in  
Rocky Point, NC.  One needs very low horizons.  If you couldn't see  
the moon, you probably couldn't see the comet: the comet was about 3-4  
deg. south and maybe 1/2 to a deg east of the moon.

True to predictions, i was able to sweep up the comet in 10x50  
binoculars by finding the (very young!) moon, then moving to the south  
about one FOV and east about 1/4 FOV.  The comet wasn't visible  
unaided eye (but i wasn't wearing my glasses, which might be why).  In  
the 10x50s, the comet when first found looked to be at least 2nd  
magnitude, and about 1/2 degree long (definitely no longer than the  
moon was wide).  As it got darker, the comet got brighter and the tail  
grew a little longer.  The shape of the head and tail looked pretty  
much like the photos have been showing.

A very pretty comet, and if the weather holds (the CSC is predicting  
tomorrow at least as good as today), i'll try again tomorrow with both  
the 10x50s and the Coulter 10" dob.

J.
-- 
Jon Stewart-Taylor: 	e-mail: joncst at earthlink.net  	Twitter:  
@Jon_c_s_t	Phone: 910-602-1307
Cape Fear Astronomy: http://www.capefearastro.org/
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