by Randy Muller
At about 10pm tonight (0500 UT July 21) I observed C/1999 S4 (Linear) from my light polluted backyard in Roseville, CA using 10x50 binoculars. It was relatively easy to pick out of the haze, even though it was pretty low in some of the worst light pollution visible from my yard.
It was located beyond the two stars that I think of as the snout of the Great Bear, Ursa Major. These are upsilon and 23 Ursae Majoris.
The chart published in the July issue of Sky and Telescope was adequate for finding it, in spite of the distinctly non-gravitational forces from its own jets which are slowly changing its orbit.
It looked like a relatively bright, but tiny fuzzy patch. Using averted vision, I could sense what appeared to be a relatively long tail, anywhere from 10 to 30 arc minutes (crude estimate) long trailing off almost due N.
This is a nice bright comet, and it doesn't take too much to see it from even bad lighting conditions.