[BAA Comets] C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) update

[denis buczynski]

Hello all,
Owen's comment about how disappointed he has been with the views he has had of C/2011L4  seem to me 
to incredible. We have the opportunity of viewing a naked eye comet in out sunset skies, one that is 
going to become more accessible to northern hemisphere observers as the month progresses. How many 
times in recent years have comet observers been able to savour such a situation. I for one have been 
enjoying every view or image I have taken. Most of these have been obtained in less than perfect 
conditions,this has only enhanced the enjoyment when I have been successful. The huge dark banks of 
cloud which for the most have obscured the views have in some ways enhanced the drama when the comet 
actually appears from behind them. It Is all about expectation, if Owen has been drawn in to 
believing the more optimistic predictions that have been made for this comet then he was always 
going to be disappointed with the actual views he has had. In reality the viewing geometry for this 
comet was always going to mean that it spent a lot of  the time when at its brightest in the bright 
twilight. Perhaps Owen should have studied this aspect of the comet's apparition before starting to 
observe it (read Jon Shanklin's appraisal of the comet apparition on the BAA comet website 
perhaps!). Comet observing is always a pursuit that is characterised with the uncertainty of what 
will be seen or imaged. One never knows what the  comet is going to appear like until that moment of 
observation. The ever changing aspect of the comet's appearance is one of the most appealing aspects 
of comet observing. Other types of astronomical observing, of objects such as galaxies and nebulae, 
are usually conducted in the best possible conditions (trips to overseas dark sky sites etc.) and 
the final view/image turns out to be what is already known and expected (with the exception of SN). 
This can never be the case with comets, as they are changing constantly. How can it be disappointing 
to follow an object through our solar system, that can change from a distant dim speck seen on a ccd 
frame to one that becomes visible to the naked eye in our skies. Should C/2012s1 (ISON) become a 
naked eye comet in our skies later this year  then the transformation from its appearance today will 
be truly astounding. We have been fortunate to witness some of the truly great comets in recent 
times in C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp (visible to the naked eye for 18 months) and C/1996 B2 Hyakutake 
(visible for only a few weeks). If Owen had hoped or expected C/2011L4 (PanSTARRS to have rivalled 
either of those comets as a visual spectacle then he was always going to be disappointed.Perhaps he 
should be examining the reasons for his disappointment( his own elevated and misguided expectations 
perhaps). For me the last week of observing this comet has been full of excitement and I have been 
left feeling somewhat awestruck by the views and images I have been able to obtain. I look forward 
to more splendid views of this celestial visitor in the coming weeks. After it has gone we will 
never have the chance to observe it again, so my views and impressions of the view of this comet 
will not be dominated by the feeling of disappointment that Owen has related to us. I am glad I 
don't observe with such an outlook myself.

Denis Buczynski

-----Original Message----- 
From: OWEN BRAZELL
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 1:39 PM
To: BAA Comets discussion list
Subject: Re: [BAA Comets] C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) update

we must be looking at different comets. This has beeen a real disapointment in the few gaps I have 
had to see it.

Owen




________________________________
From: Nick James <ndj at nickdjames.com>
To: BAA Comets discussion list <comets-disc at britastro.org>
Sent: Monday, 18 March 2013, 7:51
Subject: [BAA Comets] C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) update

I've updated the BAA blog with the latest images of this comet:

http://britastro.org/blog/?p=1180

It has certainly put on a good show so far and I disagree with some of
the rather curmudgeonly comments on the comets-ml mailing list that
imply that it is rather a disappointment. I think it is anything but.

Get out there and observe this comet while you have the opportunity. As
with most comets, you never know what it will do next!

Nick.
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