Comet visable for a few evenings...

[Mr. Magoo]

Comet Ikeya-Zhang is visable in the early evening sky from about 7:30pm to about 9:00 p.m. in the direction of slghtly west of NW. It is about 15 degrees above the horizon very close to a slightly orange star. It is best to find in binoculars, and has a very nice tail. It is a fuzzy, distinctly blueish object with a tail about 5 degrees long. The contrast between the orange star and the blueish comet is very distinct.
Here are some charts to help you find it.


http://astronomy.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/000/792lyqdn.asp

[dldz]

It's actually clear here in Oregon tonight so I'm gonna check it out thanks for the link :D

[Mr. Magoo]

Before that it may be lost in twilight, after that it is lower to the horizon, due to the earth's rotation.
I have an Odyssey 8" f11 dobsonian/newtonian telescope, which has somewhat a narrow field of view even with a low power eyepiece. So it is better to initially find with binoculars. I have heard that people could see it with thier eyes, but my eyes arn't that good and the orange star is very close, so all I see is the star with my eyes alone.
The view though the telescope is impressive though. And it's not too shabby through binocs either.
The comet will continue around the sun and will become a morning object. The Astronomy site that the link goes too would be useful to track it through that period too. You might also try http://www.skypub.com/
also.

[dldz]

Thanks again :)
can you take any pics ?
I searched on the web & found some but it's always better to see 'home-grown' ones

[BFD Deadeye]

Rocky Mountains in my way.

[dldz]

L:DL

[Mr. Magoo]

I got lucky the mountains wern't in my way. I live in a very mountainous area myself, the cascade range, right in the middle of the Willamette National Forest. The skys here are very clear at night when it isn't raining or just plain coudy. Very starry nights. Oh, and I can't take pics with this scope, although I did take a pic of Hally's comet back in 86'. Don't have that pic anymore cus it and the negitive were distroyed by water. I have owned 4 telescopes since 83'. A 4" f11 Bouch & Loumb, an 8" Celestron f11, and a 4" Meade refractor, as well as the one I currently own. of all I liked the Meade and the Odyssey. Smidt telescopes have too many glass surfaces for the light to go through and thus degrading the amount of light and quality of the image. They are, however the easiest to take pictures with cus they can be giuded to compensate for the earth's rotation. I have excellant pics, but no way to scan them to post here. If I find a way, I'll post some.