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MONTHLY OBSERVATIONS - JULY 2003

July (our winter / rain period) was a so-so month as far as clear nights is concerned. We had an air stream with N-NE winds for a week in late July which killed any hopes of observing... On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=less than 20% cloud, 2=20%-40%, 3=40%-60%, 4=60%-80%, 5=80-100%cloud/rain) the average at sunset was 3.0 (40% cloud - but often this cloud clears after sunset). There were about 8 cloudless nights at sunset. I was in Cairns (Australia) for two weeks in July so naturally got no telescope time in from my observatory - thus the below statistics are a bit low...

The following figures were issued by Gisborne's metrological office and from my own records...

A summary of my observations for the month...

* If not listed in this link these astrophotos and sketches will be scanned and uploaded next month.

In July I mainly concentrated on comet observations and comet astrophotography.

THIS MONTH'S COMET OBSERVATIONS...
JULY 2003

#1: 2nd July, 2003
Hi all,

I echo Clay's words, what a great sight P/Comet Gunn (65P) and M 70
were sitting side by side. Evety now and again the universe lines
things up nicely to please its viewers...

P/Gunn (65P) 2003 July 02.46 UT: m1 = 12.4, Dia.= 35", DC = 6, 41cm
f4.5 Reflect (166x)…John Drummond, (Gisborne, New Zealand) [65P
displays a fairly bright coma with a condensed nucleus. A beaut sight
sitting next to M 70 (GC). Comet's alt is 78* in the ENE. Stellar LM
=15.6, diffuse LM = 14.4 (scope)].

Cheers...

#2: 24th July, 2003

It's a still, cold, clear night here tonight. Tried visually for eight
comets but only saw six; note that some of these comets were very
faint and the observations were difficult...

66P (du Toit) 2003 July 24.30 UT: m1 = 13.0, Dia.= 1.2', DC = 2, 41cm
f4.5 Reflect (166x)...John Drummond, (Gisborne, New Zealand) [66P
appears as a large VERY diffuse faint smudge. Cannot see a nucleus.
Comet's altitude 54* in the W. Stellar LM = 15.6 diffuse LM = 14.4,
(scope)].

P/Wild 4 (116P) 2003 July 24.31 UT: m1 = 13.5, Dia.= 0'.4, DC = 6,
41cm f4.5 Reflect (166x)...John Drummond, (Gisborne, New Zealand)
[116P has a smallish coma with a fairly condensed nucleus. Comets alt
is 72* in the NW. Stellar LM =15.6, diffuse LM = 14.4 (scope)].

C/2003 H1 (LINEAR) 2003 July 24.32 UT: m1 = 14.2, Dia.= 0'.3, DC = 6,
41cm f4.5 Reflect (166x)...John Drummond, (Gisborne, New Zealand) [A
very difficult observation. I THINK I can see H1… Appears to be a
small FAINT smudge with a gradual nucleus. Comets alt is 32* in the N.
Stellar LM =15.5, diffuse LM = 14.3 (scope)].

53P (P/Van Biesbroeck) 2003 July 24.34 UT: m1 = 14.3, Dia.= 0'.3, DC =
7, 41cm f4.5 Reflect (166x)...John Drummond, (Gisborne, New Zealand)
[A difficult observation. Can just make out 53P as a small, very faint
smudge with a nucleus. Comet's alt is 62* in the NW. Stellar LM =15.6,
diffuse LM = 14.4, (scope)].

C/2002 J4 (NEAT) 2003 July 24.37 UT: m1 = 15.0, Dia.= 0'.1, DC = 8,
41cm f4.5 Reflect (166x)...John Drummond, (Gisborne, New Zealand) [A
VERY difficult observation and one I'm not entirely certain on,
nevertheless...Used a DDS and GSC 2.2 download to ID field - J4 seems
to be a very faint almost stellar smudge(?) barely perceptable to the
eye... Comet's alt is 70* in the SE. Stellar LM =15.6] .

P/Gunn (65P) 2003 July 24.39 UT: m1 = ~12.0, Dia.= 1.0', DC = ~4, 41cm
f4.5 Reflect (166x)...John Drummond, (Gisborne, New Zealand) [A
difficult observation due to 65P sitting in a rich field of mag 13-14
stars - it looks like a comet with many stellar nuclei - or a small
globular cluster - due to this it is hard to get a DC and mag
estimate. Comet's alt is 77* in the ENE. Stellar LM =15.6, diffuse LM
= 14.4 (scope)].

Cheers