h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I wrote about Comet Hartley 2 in my September BATS: A73800795 and even promoted the 30th as being a good night to view as it would be directly beneath the very distinctive "W" of Cassiopeia.

It's gorgeous out there, crisp and clear. I've just been gazing at the comet through my binos, although I spotted it straight away naked eye.

Is it visible now?

Cool!

We're fogged in, and it won't be dark for a few more hours yet

I just love living inland - NOT!- cloud cloud and more cloud - bah humbug! err and

dare I ask your highness, how I can tell where Cassiopia is please?

Point me in the vague direction?

to the north and 5 stars shaped to look like a "W"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassiopeia_%28constellation%29

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/A_FALL/CASS_O.HTM

ah - thanks Prof!

there is too much sand in the sky here for me to see any stars tonight, maybe tomorrow if the storm dies down

your welcome love

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html

the international space station tracker! just in casethis isn't a comet

Now that I'm back in the city I'm not hopeful of my star-gazing chances, but for you - I'll pop outside!

too cloudy!

Cloudy here and its been raining (9:30pm PST).

Nothing like the view of Hale Bopp I had in the high desert, with the tail sweeping across an expanse of almost 18 degrees of the sky.

Hale Bopp was awesome. I remember being driven out to a field somewhere to see it and expecting it to be moving and being really startled to see it just hanging there, suspended.

Exactly the same thing happened to me. Hale-Bopp was truly awesome, I got all my comet-hunger out of my system with that one. Still hopeful Hartley 2 will brighten though.

You wouldn't have seen it if you hadn't know exactly where to look, peeps. Sorry I wasn't more explanatory but I never got chance to go back on the PC. Thanks for helping out with the questions, Prof. You're now my second-in-charge

an honour

Tonight's a night to look for the comet, it's going to be cold, crisp and CLEAR according to the weather forecast

Is it still under Cassiopeia?

Last night it passed eta Perseii - I don't know if that helps. I don't have time to search now as I'm going out, but please let me know if you spot it


http://www.derekscope.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/CometHartley2-bw1.jpg

It wasn't particularly clear here, and now a big cloud is coming. So no show.