A shot from this morning, 5am, 4 November 2013 (18:00, 3 Nov 2013 UT). Canon 650D on Vixen Polarie, 200mm lens, 10 x 75 sec, ISO 6400, F/5.6 - image is a crop. Comet was at 10-deg altitude, sky clear, howling wind!
So quick question, I’m Brisbane based and I’ve heard the best days for us would be some stage between 23-25 November.
Now I was initially planning to head up north of the Sunshine Coast for a couple of nights to get some photos at darker skies, however it’s seeming now that it might not be worth it?
Any thoughts on whether I should still take a day or two up there?
Ian Musgrave has done a fantastic write up on ISON for ABC Science.
Everything you need to know is here, including heights and times for different states.
This would have to be the most comprehensive write up on I've seen.
also I think on discovery or Nat geo channel there is a special coming up about "comet of the century" it was only an ad and didn't listen too much about it, but it might be about ISON
confirmed : from the website
Follow a group of scientists on the trail of a once-in-lifetime celestial visitor: Comet ISON.
Next Showing on National Geographic Channel:
Tuesday, 26 November at 7:30pm
Thanks Matt, I'll have to keep an eye out for this.
A post-it note is going to get stuck somewhere for sure.
I havent managed to spot ISON yet as was away (far away) on holidays. Had a quick go this am after snagging Lovejoy, but ISON is low in the murky east and getting lower, and the sky getting lighter.
I have my doubts that I will catch this now, even being at a higher latitude up here. Hoping for survival of its close encounter at the end of the month.
I just posted a heads up on ISON's outburst on the IIS fb page just now.
There's some good info in it so go take a look and share the joy!
For the first time this week it looks like it just might be clear this morning for a look-see thru my binos. We've had storms everyday this week in Brisbane.
Saw ISON this morning at around 3:30am from near Brisbane in 15x50 image stabilized binoculars.
Was not too difficult - but not really easy either. The coma appeared quite compact (particularly when compared to comet Lovejoy which was somewhat easier and at a similar altitude) making it difficult to spot it's non-stellar appearance down in the murk near the horizon.
I thought I could glimpse a thin tail in the binoculars using averted vision but I couldn't be certain and the sky was brightening fast.
I was unable to see it at all naked eye but there was considerable light pollution on the Eastern horizon.
Hope some others have been able to pick this one up in binoculars.
I picked it up on DSLR about 4:40 19/11. So much light pollution and horizon obstructions for me to catch it any lower. Skyglow really swamps it...its more a green blur with a hint of a tail. The weather here kept clouds low on the horizon too for a few weeks, opportunities to try for it have been slim. A week or so to go, maybe will get lucky if it brightens faster than the sky.
Here's my image from this morning, 5:08am, 20 Nov 2013 local time (UT+11). All details on pic.
It's a hard get now from my temporary location, not just because of moonlight & twilight but because the comet has to rise above a dust band down low on the horizon. I had a go with binoculars fairly late in twilight and managed to see an extremely faint starlike object, pretty much on the limits of vision.
It's almost time to say goodbye to this comet, from southern Australia at least.
Dont give up on ison yet, comet Hyakutake in 1996 only flared up in the last 3 days that it was visible from Australia. Here is a 50mm uncroped (photo scan) taken the morning before it moved into the suns glare.
So glad you mentioned Hyakutake! That was my favorite comet of all time but few seem to mention it.
I'm sick of trying to scrounge these out of the twilight. Hyakutake culminated at more like a 2 am; was fairly high above the northern horizon; visible in moonless conditions; and had a tail that stretched for about 70 degrees!
