S&T: New Comet Machholz - C/2010 F4

[bystander]

New Comet Machholz - C/2010 F4 (Machholz)
Sky & Telescope AstroAlert - 2010 March 27

Don Machholz of Colfax, CA, has spotted an 11th-magnitude comet low in the morning sky in the constellation Pegasus. He was using his 18½-inch reflector at 77x. In reporting the find to the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT), Machholz described the comet as having a 2' coma and no tail. But when he'd first caught sight of it on March 23rd, twilight was coming on so fast that he could not tell which way it was moving. After an agonizing three days, he again located it, still in Pegasus but now 6° farther east.

Late last night CBAT announced the discovery on IAU Circular 9132, which includes confirming observations by Japanese amateurs Y. Ikari, K. Kadota, and K. Yoshimoto.

This is Machholz's ninth comet discovery, his others having being made from 1978 to 2004. Like all his others, this was a visual find — something unusual in this age of CCD-equipped backyard telescopes, automated professional surveys, and spacecraft also vying for comets.

[neufer]

http://thecomethunter.com/gallery.html

[bystander]

http://thecomethunter.com/gallery.html

Wrong comet! This one was discovered Tuesday and confirmed yesterday.

[neufer]

http://thecomethunter.com/gallery.html

Wrong comet! This one was discovered Tuesday and confirmed yesterday.

But 1) the right Machholz and 2) the right sisters (for today).

[owlice]

This is like watching a very slow tennis match.