Comet Boattini C/2007 W1

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi all

This image of Comet Boattini was captured on Saturday night, 3rd May at the Mangrove Mountain Pony Club. I can't see many comets from home (due to trees in the North and West), so I wanted to take the opportunity to capture this one.

Unfortunately it took me ages to find it - I couldn't see it in the finderscope and there wasn't much that was recognisable in the field nearby. After spending far too much time before capturing the first photon, it was already setting and so I could only capture 9x 3min exposures (with ICNR).

unmodded Canon 350D + IDAS LPS Filter + WO 0.8x reducer, through ED80, auto-guided on EQ6.

I'll definitely try to capture it again as it brightens over the next months.

1200px version here:
Comet Boattini C/2007 W1

800px version attached.

Thanks for looking.

[h0ughy (David)]

well done Mike!

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Nice catch, Mike!

[Deeno]

Well worth the time and effort!!

[edwardsdj (Doug)]

Wow Mike!

I really hope this one brightens enough for me to consider having a go.

[RB (Andrew)]

Wow that turned out nice and sharp and very nice colour too.

How did you find the IDAS LPS Filter, does it help?

Also did you guide on the comet?

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys.

It was first light for the IDAS LPS filter, so I can't really say for sure if it helped. I really need to spend a night doing a before/after comparison with say 50 minutes of each on the same object.

I just guided on a star, and aligned on the comet in stacking.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Mike, interesting to see a wide field view of this comet to compare to my narrow field, and see that there is no extending tail which I wondered if there might be.

Nice sharp image you have Any ideas on colour accuracy? It's a nice colour in your photo, unsure if it's affected much by being an un-modded camera? (just interested)

Roger.