[BAA Comets] Comet 46P Wirtanen

[Peter Carson]

Hi Wendy,
Well done for capturing this faint comet, perseverance pays off. I imaged 46P again this morning see my images here http://www.astromania.co.uk/46P_20180817_0229_PCarson.jpg It appears to be showing hints of a tiny tail. I had two previous failed attempts from home on the 3rd and 5th Aug before I first captured it on the 11th. The comet was at an altitude of 19 degs on the 11th and 21 degs this morning, rather low. Fortunately there are some patches of my southern horizon where I can get down to about 12 degs altitude, although the sky’s rubbish down there.
Like you my astrometry this morning was only RA 0.1’ different from the MPC prediction. When I last measured 46P I had forgotten to update MPCorb which led to the large differences.
Keep up the good work.
Peter

Peter Carson SE Essex UK  MPC K02

From: Wendy Clark 
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 7:36 PM
To: BAA Comets discussion list 
Subject: Re: [BAA Comets] Comet 46P Wirtanen

Hi Peter, 
Here are the measured positions from 14 August as I reported them:

0046P         C2018 08 14.58093 01 13 08.43 -15 18 33.4          17.0 N      Q62
0046P         C2018 08 14.58260 01 13 08.55 -15 18 33.8          17.2 N      Q62
0046P       KC2018 08 14.58423 01 13 08.65 -15 18 34.4          16.8 N      Q62
0046P         C2018 08 14.58426 01 13 08.66 -15 18 34.9          17.3 N      Q62
0046P         C2018 08 14.58590 01 13 08.78 -15 18 35.3          17.3 N      Q62
0046P         C2018 08 14.58755 01 13 08.86 -15 18 35.9          17.3 N      Q62
0046P         C2018 08 14.58920 01 13 08.99 -15 18 37.2          17.2 N      Q62

I was 0.1' out on RA and 0.0' on the Dec with all my measurements.

This is the first time I've managed to get the comet too and I've been trying since 11 May!  Most of my data up until now has had the comet some way off from the predicted position and neither myself nor an experienced astronomer could be sure of it in any data I had between 11 May and 9 July and that was using some big aperture scopes.  I'm obviously pleased I nabbed it now.  What altitude was it when you imaged on 11th?

Kind regards
Wendy Clark




On 12 August 2018 at 11:03, Peter Carson <petercarson100 at gmail.com> wrote:

  Hi All,
  Here’s my first image of comet 46P Wirtanen taken yesterday morning 2018 Aug 11th. http://www.astromania.co.uk/46P_201808110224_PCarson.jpg
  The comet appears to be some distance off the MPC predicted position (RA +1.4’ DEC +0.7’), but I’m sure it is 46P I’ve measured.
  To make me feel better has anyone else measured its position recently?
  Peter 

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Wendy Clark
twinklespinalot at gmail.com
wendy.clark at eswlighting.co.uk
M: +44 7831865535




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