[BAA Comets] 2013US10 from Southend Essex

[Nick James]

Peter,

A really nice clear night last night with lots of comet images, a couple 
of NEOs and some other stuff. I managed to get a couple of hours of 
sleep but I too have a long day ahead at work...

Since C/2013 US10 is now much higher I stayed in Chelmsford but I did 
screw up in my planning. With one exception the comet is now well above 
my local horizon so I was hoping to get some good shots using my 
widefield camera on the main mount (SXVR-H18 + WO Megrez 72, f/6). 
Unfortunately, the exception was a large tree which blocks the view to 
my SW and US10 disappeared into that at around 0535 so I don't have many 
frames to stack.

In a hurry I set up my 200mm f/2.8L lens on another mount down the 
garden and do have a long run on the comet using that.

I could see the comet clearly in 11x80s from my light-polluted back 
garden but just as a fuzzy ball with a starlike centre. No sign of any 
tails but that is not surprising from here.

A beautiful thin crescent Moon and Venus in a brightening sky as I set 
up to take the flats rounded off a very nice night.

Lots of coffee now then off to work.

Nick.



> The additional altitude of 2013US10 made for a much better view. I could detect the comet in my 7x50’s from the urban observing site (SQM-L 18.66 in the direction of the comet). In the 11x80’s the star like nucleus surrounded by a hazy coma was obvious. I thought I could detect extensions to the south and west but I did know what to expect so maybe my imagination was helping.
> I imaged 2013US10 with my 100mm refractor and it appears I’ve got some useful data. However the processing will have to wait until tomorrow...I’ve got a full day to day.
> What are others seeing?
> Peter
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