Comet-watching alert: Another south Lincoln Park session tonight

7:53 PM: Just got last-minute word from expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen that the prospects look good for Comet PanSTARRS viewing again tonight, so she’ll be at south Lincoln Park beach around 8 pm. If any comet photos result, we’ll add them here later. Here’s WSB coverage from last night, with infolinks that might help even if you’re watching from elsewhere.

11:12 PM: Thanks to John Hinkey for the photos (above and below) of Comet PanSTARRS from tonight.

He says they watched from a northwest West Seattle home, but “Could not have found it without Alice Enevoldsen’s directions!” Meantime, as for the Lincoln Park watch, we got to Lincoln Park minutes too late for the comet – Alice says it vanished behind the cloud shelf over the Olympics around 9:10 pm. We arrived around 9:15; thanks to Alice and husband Jason for sticking around for a little guided stargazing with one of their telescopes – Jupiter and star cluster Pleiades, If there’s a chance of visibility again tomorrow, they’ll be back, but that might be the last time for a while, so if you’re interested, make (tentative) plans to be there!

Nitro March 23, 2013 (9:01 pm)

How late will she be there ?

WSB March 23, 2013 (10:54 pm)

Sorry I missed your Q, Nitro. As soon as I finished a story I couldn’t leave the house without finishing, we ran down – and just missed the comet. I am adding this to the story in a few minutes but long story short, it went out of view around 9:10. We got there about 9:15 and Alice and Jason still had their telescope out and he kindly focused on a few key sights – Jupiter, the Pleiades … nice night for stargazing. Tomorrow might be, too.

MikeC March 23, 2013 (11:38 pm)

Nice work and patience John!

dcn March 24, 2013 (3:21 pm)

My son and I saw it thanks to Alice and Jason last Monday. They were great–patient in pointing out the comet to so many people, answering questions, and generous in sharing their telescopes. We’re so glad we went out.

John March 24, 2013 (3:50 pm)

Thanks Mike – it was worth the cold toes! It was very very difficult to find due to the bright moon and being low on the horizon. According to Alice’s website the comet will be getting slightly higher in the sky and farther North when the sun sets until the end of March, which might make it a bit easier to spot, especially when the moon become less than full:

http://d1jqu7g1y74ds1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Panstarrs-March-16vUT-chart.jpg

John

Sorry, comment time is over.