Re: Comet 2006 M4 (SWAN) had brightened dramatically


Paul Schlyter wrote:

Anyway, easily found it with 7x50 binocs. Ho Hum.
Frankly I found it underwhelming.

That's probably because you viewed it from light polluted skies.


The skies were not super dark, but they were not
terrible either. I could just see all the stars in the little
dipper. I clearly remember seeing both Bopp and
Hyakutake from city skies of similar darkness and
they were much more impressive and obvious.


(...)
What's the definition of a 'Great' comet? Easy, one that
even non-astronomy dorks notice. Unfortunately Swan
doesn't make the grade.

As light pollution steadily gets worse year after year,
your requirements of a comet to be 'Great' will increase.


It's not so much that light pollution is getting worse -
many areas are already saturated - as it is the afflicted
area growing.

A century or more ago, non-astronomy dorks would have noticed
a comet like Comet Swan.

Unfortunately those days are over.

Eric

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Comet 2006 M4 (SWAN) had brightened dramatically
    ... That's probably because you viewed it from light polluted skies. ... expect a mag 4 to 5 comet to be as impressive as a mag zero comet! ... And I don't think anyone claimed Comet SWAN to be a "Great Comet". ... It's not so much that light pollution is getting worse - ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: UK : Essex : Youths set trap and attempt robbery of cyclist.
    ... I've not been to Morocco, but partner has, and said nothing of its skies ... the light pollution we have over here. ... seemingly full of groups of stars creating shapes in the sky. ... huge amount of artificial glare is thrown up into the sky and the huge ...
    (uk.rec.cycling)
  • Re: Today, I Am The Luckiest Man In The World
    ... In suburban Detroit, our skies are not very dark, but it's better than ... pollution in addition to the light pollution, and on an average night, ... where I expect objects should be, I expect that the invisible objects ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Comet 2006 M4 (SWAN) had brightened dramatically
    ... I wasn't able to make it out of the city, so no dark skies ... it was obliterated by all the light pollution. ... the enormous etheral green tail on comet Hyakutake. ... What's the definition of a 'Great' comet? ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Which major star parties have Bortle Class 1 skies?
    ... Should I use direct vision or averted? ... naked-eye limiting magnitude is measured at the zenith ... little value as a way of comparing your skies to someone else's, ... usually employed by people who are used to severe light pollution. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)