Comet Lovejoy 23-12-11

Lester · #1 23-12-2011, 06:01 AM

Hi all, Did an alnighter so bit dopey now. Wanted to get the comet at the earliest possible time; but was hindered by cloud just in the comet's position. Thankfully it broke up before the sky lightened too much. This is a 3 minute exposure with 50mm lens at F3.2. The image is not cropped. I estimate the tail to be 20 degrees, although if someone knows the FOV of a 50mm lens on a Canon 20Da camera we may be able to measure it more accurately.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/1d5bf314.jpg

tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook) · #2 23-12-2011, 06:08 AM

Hi, Lester.

Awsome image!

Looks great aginst the cloud.

Cheers,
Justin.

swannies1983 (Dan) · #3 23-12-2011, 06:11 AM

Smashing

I found a nice spot near McLaren Vale only to find cloud starting to roll in right where Lovejoy was. It was clear all night and satellite shows it wouldn't be around for long

. Oh well, next time.

ngcles · #4 23-12-2011, 06:22 AM

Hi Lester,

I saw it this morning for the first time (just a 5-10 minute glimpse at 3.20am) and it lives up to all the hype. Superb, rivals C/2006 P1 McNaught -- and that's saying something. Clouds came from everywhere as I was setting the camera up.

Wonderful image Lester!

Re length of the tail, from your image I'd say 17-18 degrees.

After using Megastar and doing a more careful measure , I'd say a whisker under 15 degrees.

Best,

Les D

Virgs · #5 23-12-2011, 06:29 AM

Very nice

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 23-12-2011, 06:38 AM

Spectacular!!
Thanks for the camera info too.

Lester · #7 23-12-2011, 07:14 AM

Thanks Justin, Dan, Les, Virgs and Jjj for your comments.

Thanks for the calculation Les of the tail length, although I thought is would be longer than that. I could follow the tail for 3 FOVs in 7x50 binoculars.

All the best.

shelltree (Shelley) · #8 23-12-2011, 07:22 AM

Holy moly Lester, this is just beautiful! Makes me even more excited about trying to see Lovejoy tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed it isn't clouded out like this morning was

swannies1983 (Dan) · #9 23-12-2011, 07:24 AM

What type of lens do you have?

SkyViking (Rolf) · #10 23-12-2011, 07:27 AM

Incredible! One of the best images so far.

Liz · #11 23-12-2011, 07:31 AM

Fabulous Lester, lucky bugger. Tail looks magnificent.
Alas, no luck for me today.

jeff@sa · #12 23-12-2011, 07:33 AM

Top shot Lester!
Cheers,
Jeff

Shiraz (Ray) · #13 23-12-2011, 09:11 AM

just beautiful Lester - work of art. Regards Ray

strongmanmike (Michael) · #14 23-12-2011, 09:17 AM

Agree with Rolf, the best I've seen - wow!

Mike

Lester · #15 23-12-2011, 09:24 AM

Thanks for your comments, I appreciate them all.

The lens is a Canon 50mm F1.4 that I stop down to F3.2, it is not the "L" series lens.

All the best.

iceman (Mike) · #16 23-12-2011, 09:24 AM

Beautiful Lester. Would love to have seen a bit of the foreground but it's a beautiful comet!

Lester · #17 23-12-2011, 09:29 AM

Thanks Mike. After yesterdays shots I chose to keep the foreground out of the FOV, as the mount tracks and the foreground becomes blured. This exposure was much longer than yesterdays so the foreground would have deteriated.

All the best.

iceman (Mike) · #18 23-12-2011, 09:36 AM

Ah, didn't know you were tracking. That explains it.

iceman (Mike) · #19 23-12-2011, 09:36 AM

If I could be bothered dragging my EQ6 out to the Coast, I'd take one exposure with tracking on, and one with tracking off, and combine them.

Clayton · #20 23-12-2011, 09:55 AM

Amazing shot Lester