(SNES) Ikeya-Zhang and M31

[Albireo54@aol.com]

Hi Folks,

I had a great look this evening at Comet Ikeya-Zhang and M31, the Great 
Andromeda Galaxy - and hope that many of you did as well. :o)

With the comet moving quickly to the north these days I had to literally hang 
out a third floor west-facing window to see it at about 7:20, as it was 
starting to get quite dark. It was far brighter than M31, which in the fading 
twilight was just a very dim hazy patch in my 10 x 50 binoculars; it's core 
about 1.5 degrees directly below the comet. Ikeya-Zhang has faded noticeably 
in the last week, yet I could still easily trace its fine tail a full 3 
degrees up and slightly northeast of 6th magnitude GO Andromeda. Since in 
photographs M31 itself extends at least that same distance, I'm sure that it 
and the comet will be a grand sight for those fortunate enough to photograph 
the pair. The biggest problem for me visually was M31's low altitude, only 
about 11 degrees above the NW horizon.

Tomorrow is Friday, so naturally the weather forecast is not too encouraging 
- but I'll be ready to head to FDO should the skies cooperate even a little. 
I'd love to see the comet from that dark location!

Hope to see many of you soon,
Doug  
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