12P Pons-Brooks

March 1, 2024    

Observed 12P with both 15x70s and my 8" f/6 dob at 48X at Broemmelsiek Park (FNOH).   Could barely detect it in the 8x50 finder scope.  Primarily a pinpoint pseudo-nucleus with fuzzball coma. Observation of "tail" was very ethereal, more like "suggested tail".  That said, others who observed it this evening iun my scope also believe the tail was present and pointing somewhat northward (the Sun angle being from somewhat SW of the comet).

I would estimate the comet at 7th magnitude.  Local sky conditions only showed 3 of the Little Dipper stars at the time (7:48 PM CST).  Seeing was pretty steady (Jupiter at 170x, Trapezium E&F stars at  170x).  Comparing  this drawing to the previous drawing the size of the comet as drawn may seem the same, but at 48x vs 200x this comet has definitely grown in size.  Another magnitude of brightness (or so) could make the tail really pop and might make this a better target for imaging by those (like me) without cameras on tracking mounts.  I hope so!

March 10, 2024:  Finally had an opportunity to see this comet from a dark sky site at New Moon.  It did not disappoint!  Estimated at magnitude 6, it showed up as a fuzzy 'star' in the 10x60 finder scope, as well as in my 15x70 binoculars.  In my 16" f/4.5 telescope at 60x, before skies had darkened completely, it showed only a stubby tail.  About a half hour later, with a little "jiggling" of the telescope, the tail lengthened considerably!   Very hard to see the extended tail (a tenous observation) but the 'light' moved with the comet when the scope was moved.

March 11, 2024 :     From a Bortle 3 observation the night before with a 16", to a Bortle 6 location (Broemmelsiek Park) with a 10" f/6 telescope tonight, both at 60x-61x.  The tail was substantially subdued due to both light pollution and aperture.  Still easily detectable short tail, with a pinpoint p-nucleus inside a nice, slightly oblong coma.   Estimate magnitude 6 overall, but the coma was perhaps a little brighter than the night before as it showed well (sans tail) in the 10x50 finder scope (less aperture) in less light pollution.