[obol] Offtopic: Oregon Coast Snow & Comet McNaught Tonight

[Range Bayer]

Hi,

   It was very surprising to see the snow on the ground in Newport this
morning (Jan. 11).  Many people, including myself, went out of our way to
walk through it to see and hear what it felt like.

   To end the day, we were treated by a clear sky and a view of Comet
McNaught in the westsouthwest at about 5:20-5:35 PM.  I roughly estimate
the Comet to have been about 5-10 degrees above the horizon.  It was below
and to the north of Venus (the bright "star" in the southwestern sky,
maybe 20-30 degrees above the horizon).

   Comet McNaught was so bright that it showed up still in the yellowish
twilight--Venus showed up better because it was in the dark blue darkening
sky.  I only remember Comet Hale-Bopp as only showing up well against a
black sky long after sunset.  Some accounts (Google "Comet McNaught") say
that Comet McNaught might be the brightest in several decades--showing up
in the afterglow is evidence, though one has to recognize that something
has to be really bright to do so.

    Unfortunately, tomorrow night (Jan. 12) is probably the last chance
that we will have a chance to see it here.  If there are no clouds and if
you have a good view of the ocean, try around 5:15-5:35.  It is supposed to
be even lower in the sky (see below)--it will look like an intense light
with a tail trailing up.

    (Sunset at Newport is 4:58 pm tomorrow night and Sky and Telescope
recommends 20-40 minutes after sunset.)

http://skytonight.com/observing/home/5133461.html
Catch Comet McNaught Now!

http://skytonight.com/observing/home/5089276.html
January's Surprise Comet


     Cheers,

Range Bayer, Newport