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Old 28-12-2011, 07:27 AM
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Comet Lovejoy 28th December 2011

Hi all, this was my first good view of the comet since 23rd December, although still hindered by cloud. Cannot fit the comet into 50mm lens FOV. First image is taken with 50mm lens at F2.2 and 30 second exposure, using Canon 20Da at ISO 800; tracked with Celestron 8" fork mount.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/ebc23682.jpg

Second image taken with 24mm lens at F2, 1 minute exposure. The lights of Port Lincoln at the bottom right corner.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/561b4fae.jpg

Last edited by Lester; 28-12-2011 at 09:32 AM.
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Old 28-12-2011, 09:27 AM
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Nice shots there. Though tail length is still long, its surface brightness is fading, more closely matching that of the milk way. I note the tail is more blue as gases take over from dust in the tail. Note also the slight bend in it, probably changes in the solar wind.
Scott
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Old 28-12-2011, 09:34 AM
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Thanks for your comments Scott. I was not sure what caused the blue tail, but was interested to see the upper half showing this colour.
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Old 28-12-2011, 09:40 AM
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Nice work Lester
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Old 28-12-2011, 11:19 AM
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renormalised (Carl)
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Nice shots

Scott's comments are right....looks like the tail is mainly gases at present. Still a bit of dust around the head, but not as much as before which is one of the reasons why it's dimming.
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Old 28-12-2011, 11:25 AM
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Thanks Rob and Carl for your comments. Does anyone know what the orbit period of this comet is?
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Old 28-12-2011, 11:26 AM
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Great captures Lester

Looks like you have also captured something else in No.2

Cheers Petra d.
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Old 28-12-2011, 11:29 AM
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Thanks Petra, yes a meteor was caught during the exposure.

All the best.
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Old 28-12-2011, 11:45 AM
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Quote:
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Thanks Rob and Carl for your comments. Does anyone know what the orbit period of this comet is?
Something like 666 years. Geez, don't let the wackos see that number!!!!
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Old 28-12-2011, 11:51 AM
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I really like your first one - the diffraction pattern on Alpha/Beta Cent really makes them look like "stars"
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Old 28-12-2011, 01:04 PM
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It's so much fainter that before. Every night brings a significant change.
But there are still plenty of nights ahead of us imaging the head of the comet.
Beaut images Lester.
thanks for sharing
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Old 28-12-2011, 01:38 PM
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Thanks Carl, Dave and JJ for your comments. Yes although getting fainter it is still brighter than any comet I have seen for a long time.

All the best for 2012.
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Old 28-12-2011, 03:16 PM
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Very nice images Lester, tracking certainly makes a difference, it is amazing just how much the comet has faded since your first images.

Well done.
Regards
Trevor
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Old 28-12-2011, 04:05 PM
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Wonderful images. It's great to follow the comet's progress via all the top quality images here.
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Old 28-12-2011, 04:23 PM
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Thanks Trevor and Rolf for your comments.

All the best for 2012.
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Old 28-12-2011, 08:59 PM
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A fine effort, especially considering how much it has faded, nice to see some tracked images.
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Old 29-12-2011, 01:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lester View Post
Hi all, this was my first good view of the comet since 23rd December, although still hindered by cloud. Cannot fit the comet into 50mm lens FOV. First image is taken with 50mm lens at F2.2 and 30 second exposure, using Canon 20Da at ISO 800; tracked with Celestron 8" fork mount.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/ebc23682.jpg

Second image taken with 24mm lens at F2, 1 minute exposure. The lights of Port Lincoln at the bottom right corner.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/561b4fae.jpg
Wow @ both of those shots. Even following your settings (without tracking though) I could get nothing even remotely like your shots quality. Can't blame the equipment, so must be this photographer (me) simply sucks at comets ;-)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lester View Post
Thanks Rob and Carl for your comments. Does anyone know what the orbit period of this comet is?
I'd heard 340,000 years. Not sure if that is indeed correct or not though.

Dave
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Old 29-12-2011, 01:44 AM
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more really fine images Lester. regards Ray
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Old 29-12-2011, 06:46 AM
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Thanks Phil, Dave and Ray for your comments. Dave I don't think I have any special skills at this, as I just point the gear and shoot. What camera are you using? Are your skies relatively dark? Mine are not dark as country skies with Port Lincoln only 5kms away in the south and illuminates the sky for 20-30 degrees.

All the best for 2012.

ps cloudy here again this morning.
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Old 29-12-2011, 08:54 AM
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Very nice Lester.

All the best 2012. Saturn and Mars await.

John.
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