Comet Garradd

This is the first sketch I am submitting to ASOD although I do many sketches of Messier objects and double stars and plan to submit more later. This sketch, entitled “Comet Garradd,” was conducted from the summit of Haleakala on Maui at 10,000 Ft. elevation, using my Celestron C925 with a Swan 40 eyepiece at 58X. The location is in Science City at the Institute for Astronomy at the Haleakala Amateur Astronomers Club which I am a member. It was executed September 19, 2011, with a #2 HB pencil on a standard 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper log.

Object: Comet Garradd
Observation Location: Haleakala Summit Maui, elev: 10,000ft. 20 71 52W -156 169W
Right Ascension: 19 32 06
Declination: 19 43 19
Constellation: Hercules
Magnitude: ~8
Size: ~6
Date: 09/19/11
Time: 2141
Media: Pencil on paper
Transparency: 6/7
Seeing: 4/5
Conditions: Temp: 52ºF, Wind: 14mph, Humidity: 9%
Telescope: C925
Focal Length:F10
Aperture: ~235mm
Eyepiece/Magnification: Swan40
Power: 58X
Filters: None

Notes: Star hopped NNW from SAO 103839 past double a star to the object. Close to the south are two pairs of stars. Close to the north are two pairs of stars. The object seems mostly round with a strong concentration and what seems like a pinpoint brightness in the center. It has a tail streaming off to the south.

Steve McGaughey, A.K.A. Steve McGee