PCW Memorial Observatory – Erika Rix

2012 10 19 – 0136 UT C 168P/Hergenrother
Constellation Pegasus – 23h47m/31°3.67¢
Location: Liberty Hill, TX
16” Zhumell f/4.5, non-tracking Dob, 24-8mm Hyperion @ 8mm, 225x
S: P5, T: 2-4, light cirrus, Temp: 54F, H: 54%

At the beginning of the session, the crescent Moon was still in the western sky and the skies weren’t not ultra dark since it was still fairly early. Pegasus was ~50° altitude to the East. Bands of cirrus clouds moving in from the South. Transparency started off poor but improved as the night progressed.

With magnification at 75x, the comet looked like a small, fuzzy shuttlecock and was dimmer than the main stars in the FOV. Increasing power to 225x and with averted vision, the tail appeared split with the center the longest reaching to the SE – very diffuse to the sides. Brightened coma elongated slightly NW to SE.

Original view before inverted:

Eyepiece sketch using AL template on white copy paper, #2 pencil, 0.5mm mechanical pencil, extra-fine tipped felt tipped artist pen, blending stump.

~ by Erika Rix on October 19, 2012.

Posted in 168P/Hergenrother, Comets & Asteroids
Tags: comet