Comet Lulin Movin’ Out

Comet Lulin

Comet C/2007 N3 Lulin
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

C/2007 N3 (Lulin)

I got my first “good look” tonight of our bright visitor after moonset and none too soon as the comet and earth distance begin to increase. I made a quick graphite sketch under the starry canopy. I was out observing the moon from twilight until moonset. That allowed the comet time to reach nearly 58 degrees in altitude before I turned my attention to Lulin.
Here is my (inverted graphite) sketch

C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
March 1, 2009 4:30-5:00 UT
Magnitude: aprox. 6.2
Transparency: 4/5
Seeing: 8/10
Wind speed: 15 mph
Temp.: -6C (22F)
Telescope: 108mm f/6 with 24mm eyepiece 27x

Frank McCabe

6 thoughts on “Comet Lulin Movin’ Out”

  2. Frank,
    Nice sketch of this memorable visitor. I have this
    feeling that this comet had more fanfare and exposure to the public due to the IYA awareness that has been going on globally. Keep up the great job with those sketches.

    Juanchin

  3. As Lulin comet came close to the Earth, that reminds us of the collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy with the Jupiter in July 1994. Let me share with a point I made that time. — A comet can collide with a moon also, rather than the Jupiter, as there are several moons around it – some orbiting in forward direction and some in opposite direction. So one can not predict the collision of a comet with a moon, if its mode of orbital motion is ignored. But in the teaching of Circular Motion, the actual direction of motion – clockwise or anticlockwise is ignored. So can we say our knowledge is logically / conceptually perfect?

  5. Dale and Marek,

    Thank you for those kind encouraging words. I feel relieved I finally got a good look.

    Frank

  6. Frank,

    A beautiful wield field capture of the comet.

    Glad that you had some quality time under the stars.

    Rony

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