Comet Lovejoy and the emu

[Paul Haese]

We got a break in the clouds today and headed out near Karoonda SA. It was really dark in this location, however even the lights of Tailem Bend were visible in my widefield shots. I did manage to get a nice shot of the comet at quite hi res and of note is that the comet now nearly covers the whole sensor on my D3 (35mm sized sensor) with a 50mm lens. The tail is very extensive but has dimmed considerably since my last outing on the 24th of December.

Click here for portrait (nice colours I think). The emu is well seen here.

Click here for Widefield and the emu. Taken during twilight and hence the blue.

The back end of the tail is now quite blue too. I wonder why it has taken on this look?

[RB (Andrew)]

Well done Paul.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Top shots Paul.

[Shiraz (Ray)]

really nice work Paul. Blue colour maybe for the same reason as reflection nebulae are blue? - selective scattering. Regards Ray

[kinetic (Steve)]

Beautiful Paul,

last night was looking promising as an all-nighter but...alas...
good call re: Karoonda:
http://realtime2.bsch.au.com/vis_sat...art=&stop=#nav

Steve

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

nice images Paul.

[astronobob (Bob)]

Nice captures Paul ! Hope alls well from the storms your way, sounds epic in places ?

[tornado33]

Great images there. Sadly socked in at Newcastle today.
I think the blue colour is the gas emissions. As the comet moves further from the Sun, there is less heat, and less dust coming off, while the more volatile ices and gases boil off, making the bluish gas or ion tail more prominent and the yellow dust tail less so

[Adelastro1 (Wayne England)]

Nice shots Paul. Yes the tail is noticeably blue in yours which I hadn't noticed before.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Great shots, Paul

Especially the widefield.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Love #1 - very nice shot.

Dave

[Forgey (Paula)]

Very nice - love No.1 shot.

[Quark (Trevor)]

Very nice Paul, the comet has certainly dimmed considerably and the tail lengthened. A lovely portrait, I think I see a quality lens in my future.

Regards
Trevor

[Peter Ward]

Some nice images there Paul....looks like South and Western Australia got the great weather prize for Chrissy !

[Paul Haese]

Thanks all for the comments.

Steve, don't worry mate. I am down south at the observatory and it is clear here and I would expect Adelaide will be too sometime tonight.

Bob, that is Melbourne that copped the storms, we are just fine and dandy in Adelaide.


Scott that could well be the case. It was interesting that the Ion tail that I captured several days ago did not have this blue but I think you are right.

Hey Trev only one of these lenses is a quality lens. The 50mm is 25 years old and one of the first AF lenses I got with a F501 I bought.

Peter, not all the weather has been great, but I am happy to receive more clear skies for the next week or so while I am at the observatory. Time to nut down and get the RC imaging. Test images yet to start flowing.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Some great results there Paul, nice work

Mike

[naskies (Dave)]

Nice work, Paul!