Comet Leonard is here

[Spacehead]

My understanding is that it will be visible again on the evening of the 14th. Rain forecast here for then.

For me, on the 14th it will only be 8 degrees above the horizon at 5:30pm. That's only 15min after sunset. So...not so great timing for me.

Just remember, i'm in NW PA. If you're farther North or South from me then things vary.
@IronWing, i know you're in AZ so it'll be higher in the sky for you. (edit)Er, not really, still low on the horizon just after sunset for you.

 

[Spacehead]

That's called the Sun.

 

[Spacehead]

Nice pic here & an explanation:
Comet Leonard Before Star Cluster M3

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's not as cold out so I was going to go check more carefully but of course it clouded over now lol. When I was out earlier taking snow off the solar panels I could see the stars fairly clearly. Though there were these odd cloud formations moving super fast, but scattered everywhere so could still see the stars. But now it's mostly clouded over in the East, which I think is where it should be right?

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Hey, if Sheldon can be the Doppler Effect, why can't I be a comet?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Hey, if Sheldon can be the Doppler Effect, why can't I be a comet?

*Laugh track*

 

[Spacehead]

...But now it's mostly clouded over in the East, which I think is where it should be right?

West in the evenings & East in the morning. Very low on the horizon at both times for now.

edit-
at 5:30 Monday night it'll be barely 6 degrees above the horizon in the WSW in Timmins

 

[BarkingGhostar]

One small smack for the dinosaurs, one large woohoo for the rodent pre-humans.

 

[Shmee]

The dinosaurs sacrificed themselves to save us. The least we can do is bring them back. They are very honorable.

 

[sandorski]

Put on your Nikes, it's the only way They know.

 

[IronWing]

I'm not sure if I spotted it or not. I found another great smudge in the sky through the spotting scope in the right spot but it was very dim. There ain't no way one would see it with consumer binoculars. This doesn't match the description of the comet being bright so my guess is that I saw a galaxy or nebula and the comet was lost in some thin clouds right on the horizon. The evening wasn't a total bust as I had the best views of Saturn's rings I've ever seen.

 

[Spacehead]

I'm not sure if I spotted it or not. I found another great smudge in the sky through the spotting scope in the right spot but it was very dim. There ain't no way one would see it with consumer binoculars. This doesn't match the description of the comet being bright so my guess is that I saw a galaxy or nebula and the comet was lost in some thin clouds right on the horizon. The evening wasn't a total bust as I had the best views of Saturn's rings I've ever seen.

Hmmm... it's in Sagittarius so there's lots of deep sky objects around there. Globular cluster maybe? Looks like most reports show Leonard at around magnitude 3-3.5

Cool on the rings though

 

[IronWing]

I found the same smudge again three nights running where the comet is supposed to be so I'm going to assume I've found it.

 

[Spacehead]

Cool!

Looks like my next chance weather wise will be Monday evening.

 

[sdifox]

I found the same smudge again three nights running where the comet is supposed to be so I'm going to assume I've found it.

You sure it's not on the telescope?

 

[Spacehead]

Found it tonight with my binoculars.
I guess it was bright enough still as it wasn't completely dark. I found it before i could make out Capricorn as i was going to go off of that. I knew it was below & left of Venus so i just kept scanning around. I went down the road as that's the best view of the SW sky & by the time i found it, it wasn't much above the tree line... about the field of view in my binoculars.

Not really much to look at but, hey, i found it.

 

[Spacehead]

Here's a view of the position of comet Leonard along with 3 planets. That's about how low it is just after sunset & it wasn't naked eye for me.
Three Planets and a Comet

 

[Spacehead]

Another APOD of Comet Leonard
The Tail of a Christmas Comet

 

[Spacehead]

APOD
The Further Tail of Comet Leonard

It's low in the Southern sky. It's heading into the constellation Grus so if you can see that area of the sky you can still see this comet.
Looks to be about 17 degrees South of Saturn & a little East. It's still around magnitude 5

 

[Spacehead]

APOD
Comet Leonard's Long Tail

Today was it's closest encounter with the Sun.
"Afterwards, if it survives, what is left of Comet Leonard's nucleus will head out of our Solar System, never to return."

 

[BoomerD]

Some great pics. We never had enough clear sky to have a chance of seeing it.

 

[Spacehead]

APOD
Comet Leonard Closeup from Australia
pic form Jan 2