MARCH 2002
Print Large Sky Charts For 9 p.m.: NORTH | EAST | SOUTH | WEST | ZENITH
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CHACO LOVES LEPUS: Any rabbit like my Chaco will tell you that their champion among the stars is Lepus, the Hare. Now in the Southwest at 9:00 p.m., Lepus can be found underneath the feet of Orion, the Hunter. Map and photo by Gary A. Becker... |
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APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS FOR COMET IKEYA-ZHANG can be found on the map. Use the relative separation of Mars and Hamal to judge the location of the comet. Look west using binoculars around 7:15 p.m. in a dark location without any direct streetlights. Be patient. The comet may appear star like at first, but as your eyes adjust to the dark, a tail should be seen using averted (side) vision. In other words to see the tail, don't stare directly at the comet, but view another star in the field and sneak a peek at the comet with your side vision. The tail should become distinctly visible. The comet symbol on the map only indicates the location of Ikeya-Zhang, not its brightness or tail length. Graphics by Gary A. Becker using TheSky software... |
MARCH 17-19, 2002:
View Vesta
MARCH 20-22, 2002:
Comets are Like Cats!
APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS AND TAIL LENGTHS FOR COMET IKEYA-ZHANG can be found on the map. Use the relative separation of Mars and Hamal, Hamal and Mirach to judge the location of the comet. Mars will appear distinctly red through binoculars. Look WNW using binoculars around 7:30 p.m. in a dark location without any direct streetlights. Be patient and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkening conditions for several minutes. The comet may appear star like at first, but by using binoculars you will be able to easily reveal its true nature. A tail several degrees in length should also be visilbe. Graphics by Gary A. Becker using TheSky software...
This impressive image of Ikeya-Zhang was photographed on March 11 by Michael Jäger of Stixendorf, Austria. Jäger used a Deltagraph 12"/F3.3, lens/camera and Kodak Ektachrome ASA 100/120 size, film for this seven minute exposure. Other wonderful images of Ikeya-Zhang by Jäger and Gerald Rhemann can be found by clicking on Rhemann's home page, Astro Studio. Copyright © 2002, Michael Jäger
MARCH 24, 2002:
How Bright Will Ikeya-Zhang Become?
COMET IKEYA-ZHANG IN THE MORNING SKY: The locations of Comet Ikeya-Zhang are posted for April in the morning sky. Note the time of the observation, because we switch from Eastern Standard Time to Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday morning April 7th. By mid-April Ikeya Zhang will become visible all night, but spend most its time low in the north. Graphics by Gary A. Becker using TheSky software...
MARCH 31, 2002:
Measuring Ikeya-Zhang's Brightness
MEASURE THE BRIGHTNESS AND TAIL LENGTH OF COMET IKEYA-ZHANG: A standard method of determining a comet's brightness is to defocus your binoculars and compare the "comet blob" against "star blobs" of various magnitudes. The white numbers on the star chart represent stellar brightness. Keep in mind that the more negative the number, the brighter the star. As an example, magnitude two lies closer to the negative numbers than magnitude four. Measuring the tail length is simply comparing the angular separation between two known stars, in yellow on the map, with the length of the comet's tail as seen through binoculars. If you use your side or averted vision to examine the tail, it will appear much longer. Moving the binoculars back and forth slightly and using averted vision will help to extend the tail even further. Graphics by Gary A. Becker using TheSky software...