Observation by Alan Snook: Comet 46P Wirtanen

Uploaded by

Alan Snook

Observer

Alan Snook

Observed

2018 Dec 16 - 00:40

Uploaded

2018 Dec 16 - 11:45

Objects

46P Wirtanen

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Constellation

Taurus

Field centre

RA: 03^h55^m
Dec: +19°59'
Position angle: -11°37'

Field size

4°02' × 4°07'

Equipment

Canon 18x50 IS binoculars
Field 3.7 degrees

Location

East Kent

Target name

Comet 46P Wirtanen

Title

Comet 46P Wirtanen

About this image

Unaided zenith limiting magnitude is 5.5m.I would guess the Comet's combined magnitude is about 5. It is not visible to the unaided eye. In the binoculars it is a round fuzz with a noticeable non-stellar nucleus. No structure seen and no impression of colour. The size is very difficult to estimate as the outer parts of the coma are not much different to the sky background but I put the diameter at circa 40 arcminutes.

Files associated with this observation

46P Wirtanen 2018 Dec 16.jpg (33.1 kB)

Like this image

Andy Wilson, David Swan, Nick James, Jeremy Shears, Peter Mulligan, Hugh Allen, Graham Winstanley, Peter Carson, David Basey, Jimmy Fraser, Dawson, Ray Emery, Tom Moran

Comments

David Swan, 2018 Dec 16 - 12:41 UTC

Excellent visual report as always, Alan. I too can't make out 46P with the naked eye - but I have seen it with my 10 x 50 bins. The good news - from my perspective - is that it is moving east for early evening observation at a good altitude over the north sea, which is quite dark. I hold out hope for a positive naked eye observation in the next few days.

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