[BAA Comets] C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) update

[OWEN BRAZELL]

Denis this rant does not become you. I have seen many comets over thirty + years and although I have seen L4 three times now at no point (yet) has it become naked eye from my location.

Owen



________________________________
 From: denis buczynski <buczynski8166 at btinternet.com>
To: OWEN BRAZELL <o.brazell at btinternet.com>; BAA Comets discussion list <comets-disc at britastro.org> 
Sent: Monday, 18 March 2013, 14:38
Subject: Re: [BAA Comets] C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) update
 
Hello all,
Owen's comment about how disappointed he has been with the views he has had of C/2011L4  seem to me to incredible. We have the opportunity of viewing a naked eye comet in out sunset skies, one that is going to become more accessible to northern hemisphere observers as the month progresses. How many times in recent years have comet observers been able to savour such a situation. I for one have been enjoying every view or image I have taken. Most of these have been obtained in less than perfect conditions,this has only enhanced the enjoyment when I have been successful. The huge dark banks of cloud which for the most have obscured the views have in some ways enhanced the drama when the comet actually appears from behind them. It Is all about expectation, if Owen has been drawn in to believing the more optimistic predictions that have been made for this comet then he was always going to be disappointed with the actual views he has had. In reality the
 viewing geometry for this comet was always going to mean that it spent a lot of  the time when at its brightest in the bright twilight. Perhaps Owen should have studied this aspect of the comet's apparition before starting to observe it (read Jon Shanklin's appraisal of the comet apparition on the BAA comet website perhaps!). Comet observing is always a pursuit that is characterised with the uncertainty of what will be seen or imaged. One never knows what the  comet is going to appear like until that moment of observation. The ever changing aspect of the comet's appearance is one of the most appealing aspects of comet observing. Other types of astronomical observing, of objects such as galaxies and nebulae, are usually conducted in the best possible conditions (trips to overseas dark sky sites etc.) and the final view/image turns out to be what is already known and expected (with the exception of SN). This can never be the case with comets, as they
 are changing constantly. How can it be disappointing to follow an object through our solar system, that can change from a distant dim speck seen on a ccd frame to one that becomes visible to the naked eye in our skies. Should C/2012s1 (ISON) become a naked eye comet in our skies later this year  then the transformation from its appearance today will be truly astounding. We have been fortunate to witness some of the truly great comets in recent times in C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp (visible to the naked eye for 18 months) and C/1996 B2 Hyakutake (visible for only a few weeks). If Owen had hoped or expected C/2011L4 (PanSTARRS to have rivalled either of those comets as a visual spectacle then he was always going to be disappointed.Perhaps he should be examining the reasons for his disappointment( his own elevated and misguided expectations perhaps). For me the last week of observing this comet has been full of excitement and I have been left feeling somewhat
 awestruck by the views and images I have been able to obtain. I look forward to more splendid views of this celestial visitor in the coming weeks. After it has gone we will never have the chance to observe it again, so my views and impressions of the view of this comet will not be dominated by the feeling of disappointment that Owen has related to us. I am glad I don't observe with such an outlook myself.

Denis Buczynski

-----Original Message----- From: OWEN BRAZELL
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 1:39 PM
To: BAA Comets discussion list
Subject: Re: [BAA Comets] C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) update

we must be looking at different comets. This has beeen a real disapointment in the few gaps I have had to see it.

Owen




________________________________
From: Nick James <ndj at nickdjames.com>
To: BAA Comets discussion list <comets-disc at britastro.org>
Sent: Monday, 18 March 2013, 7:51
Subject: [BAA Comets] C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) update

I've updated the BAA blog with the latest images of this comet:

http://britastro.org/blog/?p=1180

It has certainly put on a good show so far and I disagree with some of
the rather curmudgeonly comments on the comets-ml mailing list that
imply that it is rather a disappointment. I think it is anything but.

Get out there and observe this comet while you have the opportunity. As
with most comets, you never know what it will do next!

Nick.
_______________________________________________
Comets-disc mailing list
Comets-disc at britastro.org
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/comets-disc
_______________________________________________
Comets-disc mailing list
Comets-disc at britastro.org
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/comets-disc