Comet 73P-Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, component B (2006), May 7th, 2006, 8:00 - 8:30 UT, seeing 4-5 (fair-good), transparency 5.2.

TMB Optical 175mm f/8 refractor on an AP 800 mount. Magnification 58x, 70x, 88x, 100x, 117x, field of view approximately 0.6 degrees. East is at the bottom of this sketch, west to the top, north to the left and south to the right.

Component B showed an elongated coma and unlike my previous observation of this component no pseudo-nucleus was visible. Also the comet appeared to have a broad, feathery tail. Component B appeared less bright and smaller than component C.

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Comet 73P-Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, component C (2006), May 7th, 2006

Original drawing made using white pencil on black paper: Same drawing on a white background:

Comet 73P-Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, component C (2006), May 7th, 2006, 7:15 - 7:40 UT, seeing 4-5 (fair-good), transparency 5.2.

TMB Optical 175mm f/8 refractor on an AP 800 mount. Magnification 41x, 45x, 70x, 88x, 117x, 233x, field of view approximately 0.6 degrees. East is at the bottom of this sketch, west to the top, north to the left and south to the right.

There appeared to be a lot of material coming off of component C but it was not easy to record it. It had a prominent pseudo-nucleus that appeared smaller than during my previous observation of this component. In addition the coma and pseudo-nucleus had a blue-green color to it. The gas tail extended straight back from the coma, and extended approximately 1.5 to 1.75 degrees in length. A feathery dust tails extended from the bottom of the coma. Component C appeared brighter and larger than component B.