# The comets of spring/summer

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comets-of-spring-summer/238995>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 8, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comets-of-spring-summer/238995 "2004-04-08T17:44:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jane\_D\_oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@Jane\_D\_oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_D_oh)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comets-of-spring-summer/238995/1 "2004-04-08T17:44:00Z")

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[Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=205642) I asked for info about telescopes and got some great info. Still no telescopes or binoculars for me, but a great resource for when I do shop. Which will be soon because the [comets](http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~dfischer/2004/analysis.html) are coming.

So, I plan on not missing these sky shows. What do you recommend for viewing? (Aside from my new binoculars) I do not understand all the stuff on the page I linked to. I understand the the moon will not be full so viewing should be favorable, but if I am in SE Wisconsin, will I be able to see these guys? Which direction should I be facing and what is my guide so I know I’m looking in the right place?

I think I read somewhere that right after dusk is the best veiwing time for one and before dawn for the other. Can you confirm or deny? Any other reading material I should review before I head out to comet spot?

As usual, thanks for the input.

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**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comets-of-spring-summer/238995/2 "2004-04-09T02:18:59Z")

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You might find this [Sky and Telescope article](http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_1037_1.asp) helpful, **Jane**.

Bottom line: Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) should be worth looking for during May. But it’s probably going to be a faint naked-eye object at best. It might prove a nice sight in your binoculars, though, and I’ll bet the comet’s head wil be impressive in a telescope. The article give you coordinates and constellation names, as well as clickable links to an on-screen star map which should show you exactly where to look (you can change the display to see how the comet will move across the sky from night to night, too).

(Hijack: Now that you have your binoculars, it’s time for you to invest in a planisphere and a good set of 6th Magnitude star charts so you can begin to learn your way around the night sky!)

Forget about Comet LINEAR C/2002 T7; it’s going to be a strictly Southern Hemisphere show.

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**Author:** ![Jane\_D\_oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@Jane\_D\_oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_D_oh)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comets-of-spring-summer/238995/3 "2004-04-09T12:26:22Z")

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Thanks for the article link. I appreciate it.