Comet Lovejoy 30th December 2011

[Lester]

Hi all, Still dodging cloud here to get views of this wonderful comet, had to pack up at 4 a.m unfortunately as it was rising to maximum elevation before dawn breaks. This image is a 2 minute exposure with Canon 20Da at ISO 800 and 24mm lens at F3.2, tracked.

Although fading the comet is still easily visible to the naked eye with tail rising up parallel to the Milky Way.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/612c3793.jpg

[universe24 (William Chin)]

Still visible by naked eye?! Incredible....
And nice shot!

[Shiraz (Ray)]

nailed it again Lester - wonderful image. Regards Ray

[Quark (Trevor)]

Another beautiful image Lester, what a splendid portfolio of images you will have for this stunning comet.

Excellent
Regards
Trevor

[michael_sa]

Really nice to see the images on here and track it's progress.
Thanks Lester.

Michael.

[Lester]

Thanks William, Ray, Trevor and Michael for your comments. I am really hoping for clear skies tomorrow from 4-5 a.m to try even longer exposure time, and see how far the tail goes.

All the best for 2012.

[Lester]

Hi all,

here are 2 more images from this morning, both are 2 minute exposures with 24mm lens at F3.2 and 20Da at ISO 800, tracked.

The first has a very bright meteor passing the head of comet Lovejoy, and showing up well through cloud and haze of Port Lincoln.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/181efdf7.jpg

This image has a meteor near the pointers to the Southern Cross.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/181efdf7.jpg

[anthony.tony]

Nice work- tony

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Very nice images Lester. You must have very good eyes or good dark sky to still see it naked eye.

[Lester]

Thanks Tony and Michael for your comments. My skies are not as dark as I use to have on the farm, but obviously darker than what you get within a city. I could see the tail going up parallel on the right of the Milky Way this morning. The head was not visible to the naked eye, but that region was continually covered with cloud and haze.

Tomorrow morning looks like it should be 100% clear, and if so will be the first cloud free view of the comet I will get.

All the best.

[au0rey (Audrey)]

Hi Lester, ok I am extreme amateur about all this astronomy stuff but would like to know I have already missed seeing this comet. Will I be able to see it tomorrow morning before sunrise or have I already missed it? I am in Melbourne Victoria. Thanks!

[zardos123 (Brad)]

hi audrey, you should still be able to see it although it has faded a lot, if you have a set of binoculars it would help. look to the south between the horizon and the southern cross at around 3:30/4am it needs to be clear of clouds and give your eyes at least 15mins to get dark adapted, you may still be able to see it tomorrow but i can,t promise as its changing fast
goodluck
regards brad

[Liz]

Hi Audrey and welcome.

As Brad says, it has faded quite a bit, but people are still seeing it. You do need a dark site though, or depending what suberb you are in in Melbourne. Many of us have had to travel from where we live to a darker site, so you may need to head out of town, to somewhere dark.

Do yoy plan to take pics? It will show up in images pretty well still.

If you want to see it, set your alarm early .... say midnight, then head 1 hr out of town and you should see it ... faintly, streaking up from the horizon into the Southern Cross. Using averted vision will help ... so dont look directly at the comet but to the left or right of it.

Good luck!!

[Lester]

Welcome Audrey, the advice Brad and Liz gave is spot on, the darker the sky conditions the better. I am shooting the comet as I type this, with the first cloud free morning since I first saw the comet on 22-12-11.

All the best.