tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7255205.post-3774331915826676202008-05-24T07:20:00.004+09:302008-05-24T07:38:25.373+09:30<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_FgKwPBKWZpo/SDc9FG5SXiI/AAAAAAAAAgE/oeFFVwNcn1w/s1600-h/Boattini_Chart_23-05-08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_FgKwPBKWZpo/SDc9FG5SXiI/AAAAAAAAAgE/oeFFVwNcn1w/s320/Boattini_Chart_23-05-08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203695052409429538" border="0" /></a>The horizon as seen from the southern hemisphere looking west at around 10 pm (click to enlarge).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2007W1/2007W1.html">Comet Boattini</a> is brightening faster than expected and is now very easily seen in binoculars before Moon rise. It is seen as a substantial, but dim, fuzzy disk. After a bit of hunting around my non-astronomer guests found it last night (and went AWWW). People with good eyesight can (just) pick it up under dark rural or outer suburban skies.<br /><br />A spotters map is <a href="http://home.mira.net/%7Ereynella/skywatch/gifs/may_boa.gif">here</a> (there is also a link to a map that sows the comet at your local time from most major cities in Australia), a printable PDF map suitable for use with binoculars in conjunction with the spotters map from 21-29 May is <a href="http://home.mira.net/%7Ereynella/skywatch/Comet_Boattini_Chart_21-05-08.pdf">here</a>.Ian Musgravehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05010720416554077787noreply@blogger.com