I tried higher resolution imaging around the nucleus this morning (Dec 25.75). This is a result of 12 x 15 second exposures using a C8 Hyperstar + QHY9 camera. This is a 1.6 degree square field of view.
Ian - fantastic chart. I was not going to go out the 3rd time tomorrow morning as, for me the composition of the snap is not changing. However your predictions that it may look brighter has just made me want to get up again and see it in the morning.
Attached are some of the snaps from this morning -
I went to the Urangan Pier thinking it might be a better shot but the light pollution was more so in the end went back to the fisherman wharf and took the snaps.
The light pollution has spoiled some of your shots Vivek...it's a pity. But great try
You're going to have to go somewhere a lot darker. Trying to shoot in Brissie is really asking too much. Even lowering the ISO rating won't help there.
The light pollution has spoiled some of your shots Vivek...it's a pity. But great try
You're going to have to go somewhere a lot darker. Trying to shoot in Brissie is really asking too much. Even lowering the ISO rating won't help there.
Thanks Carl. These snaps are from Hervey Bay and not from Brisbane. Once I go back, I will probably have to drive down to rural areas.
Any suggestions for nearby rural areas around Brisbane.
You'll probably have to drive a good distance out of Brisbane, unless you can find somewhere there that has a relatively dark southern horizon.
You could try one of hamlets up on the scenic rim, or go up to Maleny. Or, you could try the sea side of Nth Stradbroke....go out to Pt Lookout. Just to get the lights either far enough away or behind you as best as you can. You'll get some LP from the GC and such from Straddy but it won't be near as bad as being inside Bris'.
Here are some very simple point and shoot shots that my hubby took (We are not seasoned imagers by any stretch). Just using a Sony Cybershot camera (with Carl Zeiss lens). Single 30 sec exposure, no processing.
(F2.8, F/L 8mm).
Taken this morning 26th December between 3.30-3.45am at a place called Fairney View which is situated between Fernvale & Lake Manchester, Queensland.
I compared the brightness to the LMC and noted that the comet was much dimmer than the LMC (to my eye, half as dim). By 4am it was gone.
Shelley saw the comet from the Archerfield airport the morning before (25th) and said it was very dim from there which prompted hubby and I to make a hasty trip out to a rural area after Xmas celebrations. This area is only 45mins from Archerfield and has beautiful dark milky way skies.
When we got there, it was easily noticable, though I had to point it out to hubby at first - was quite dim. Yet, quite awesome as it was so huge.
Todays effort was fraught with frustration. Patchy cloud when my wife and I left home to go to our site on the Otaki River Estuary. By the time we arrived (10 mins), it had clagged out. Holes kept appearing on the western part of the sky but as they drifted south east, filled with cloud. Annoying to see the Eta Carinae region through high cloud but no Cross. Well into twilight before it started to clear up.
A quick note before I literally fall over. Clouded out here as soon as twilight was over. So threw everything in the car and drove over the otherside of the Tararua Ranges (the same mountains that were in my pics Thursday & Friday mornings). 180 km round trip, but it was worth it. Tail out to 30 degrees but it is harder to tell because the end is intermingled with bright Milkyway fields near Beta Centauri.
At one spot the transparency was so good I could see dark lanes from the Coal Sack region spreading right through Chamaleon. Always a sign of a good night. I'll process the pics later. It was clear when I got home but I am not sure for how long. I wasn't waiting around to find out. Maybe I will tonight though. It would be great to do some decent long exposures.
Completely cloud free sky here in Bordertown in the South East! A bit of cloud came up on horizon at 4am but didn't interfere with photos. Another beautiful still night so will post some more Comet reflections tomorrow! The ISS made two passes near Lovejoy. One 3 minute sky transit at 4.20 and an amazing short transit at about 2.30 right across the lower part of the comet tail!!!!! I was lucky enough to capture them both and if I feel like processing the shirt transit image before bed I'll post it!
The comet definitely appears fainter but also larger and I agree with Ian, it's about 30deg now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by swannies1983
Completely clouded out in southern adelaide. Time to go back to sleep.
Here's a quick image I took this morning. It shows the ISS transiting the bottom of the comet!! I couldn't believe that the entire transit cut perfectly across the comet like this! The image is 30sec and the transit was probably only 10secs total so I was lucky I was taking a photo at the time! I knew it was going to be a short transit but was amazed that this happened!
I was also able to get its reflection in the water too, along with the comet, the Pointers and Southern Cross (just!).
Ian - I have another pic from last night with same settings as the night before. Just in case you didn't your shot, here it is for comparison. The comet has definitely dimmed further over the course of a day.
Out in the boondocks so internet coverage is restricted to an early morning look. Good work Ian on the graph. Yes, I have a zoomed version...let me know if you need it. Intriguing discussion you guys had yesterday re. tail.
It looks like I will finally be able to view Lovejoy again, whatever is left of it, as sunny conditions are expected over the next few days. There's only been one real cloud free night over the course of the last week. A few glimpses here and there.