BACK

C/2005 P3 SWAN on August 29th 2005 in the 16" F/4.5 dobsonian reflector at 57X. The comet was a magnitude 9.7 green patch of light with a diameter of 2-3', diffuse (D.C:2) and no tail located very low in the western evening sky within the paws of the 'Great Bear' at 34.3 degrees from the sun. The comet had no central condensation or obvious false nucleus and was a difficult object in light horizon mist. It was located close by and east of a orange field star. It required very good dark adaption and could have been very easily overlooked. My 27th observed comet.