It really is a strange looking object, visually. Through binos it looks great. I can't imagine having it directly overhead like those lucky NA guys.
I look at it this way Iceman, it'd take 10 "Holmes" comets to make up for P1 McNaught! hehe
So i'm happy to see this comet, they are worlds apart and quite unique but i'd take another McNaught-style one over this one any day!
Nice one Jeanette! Havn`t been able to see it for a while now due to lots of high cloud on the northern horizon and now this cloud belt has moved in I don`t think I get to see it for another week?
cheers
I was fortunate enough to catch the Mirfak Nebula earlier this week, along with a subtle dimming of the alpha star nestled within Holmes' coma.
The added aesthetics to Mel 20 continues to impress despite the comet's drop in magnitude and contention with moonlight.
Optimistic for another outburst,
SJS
Last edited by saberscorpx; 24-11-2007 at 02:09 AM.
I haven't processed these images other calibrated and combine them, followed by a very quick and dirty DDP stretch. I have individual RGB data to add, but didn't bother. Also took some Ha, OIII and SII which I haven't worked on yet - might be interesting. These are simply the cropped luminance shots. Taken with a TOA150 and ST10XME. The images are nothing special (certainly don't give me a buzz like DSO images).
More image info (out of FITS);
SIMPLE = T
BITPIX = 16 /8 unsigned int, 16 & 32 int, -32 & -64 real
NAXIS = 2 /number of axes
NAXIS1 = 2184 /fastest changing axis
NAXIS2 = 1472 /next to fastest changing axis
BSCALE = 1.0000000000000000 /physical = BZERO + BSCALE*array_value
BZERO = 32768.000000000000 /physical = BZERO + BSCALE*array_value
OBJECT = 'c/17P ' / Target object name
NOTES = ' '
DATE-OBS = '2007-11-04T04:43:36' / [ISO 8601] UTC date/time of exposure start
EXPTIME = 1.00000000000E+001 / [sec] Duration of exposure
EXPOSURE = 1.00000000000E+001 / [sec] Duration of exposure
SET-TEMP = -10.000000000000000 /CCD temperature setpoint in C
CCD-TEMP = -9.7878172678115689 /CCD temperature at start of exposure in C
XPIXSZ = 6.8000000000000007 /Pixel Width in microns (after binning)
YPIXSZ = 6.8000000000000007 /Pixel Height in microns (after binning)
XBINNING = 1 / Binning level along the X-axis
YBINNING = 1 / Binning level along the Y-axis
XORGSUBF = 0 /Subframe X position in binned pixels
YORGSUBF = 0 /Subframe Y position in binned pixels
FILTER = 'Clear ' / Filter name
IMAGETYP = 'Light Frame' / Type of image
EGAIN = 1.3600000143051147 /Electronic gain in e-/ADU
FOCALLEN = 0.00000000000000000 /Focal length of telescope in mm
APTDIA = 0.00000000000000000 /Aperture diameter of telescope in mm
APTAREA = 0.00000000000000000 /Aperture area of telescope in mm^2
PIERSIDE = 'WEST '
HISTORY = File was processed by PinPoint 4.1.10 at 2007-11-04T04:44:00
DATE = '04/11/07' / [old format] UTC date of exposure start
TIME-OBS = '04:43:36' / [old format] UTC time of exposure start
UT = '04:43:36' / [old format] UTC time of exposure start
TIMESYS = 'UTC ' / Default time system
RADECSYS = 'FK5 ' / Equatorial coordinate system
AIRMASS = 1.27729262853E+000 / Airmass (multiple of zenithal airmass)
ST = '00 34 07.11' / Local apparent sidereal time of exp. start
LAT-OBS = 3.29036111111E+001 / [deg +N WGS84] Geodetic latitude
LONG-OBS = -1.05529166667E+002 / [deg +E WGS84] Geodetic longitude
ALT-OBS = 2.22500000000E+003 / [metres] Altitude above mean sea level
RA = '03 42 00.00' / [hms J2000] Target right ascension
OBJCTRA = '03 42 00.00' / [hms J2000] Target right ascension
DEC = '+50 35 16.8' / [dms +N J2000] Target declination
OBJCTDEC = '+50 35 16.8' / [dms +N J2000] Target declination
CLRBAND = 'R ' / [J-C std] Std. color band of image or C=Color
INPUTFMT = 'FITS ' / Format of file from which image was read
HISTORY Bias Subtraction (Bias 2, 2184 x 1472, Bin1 x 1, Temp -10C,
HISTORY Exp Time 0ms)
CALSTAT = 'BDF '
HISTORY Dark Subtraction (Dark 5, 2184 x 1472, Bin1 x 1, Temp -10C,
HISTORY Exp Time 30s)
HISTORY Flat Field (Flat Clear 1, Clear, 2184 x 1472, Bin1 x 1, Temp -10C,
HISTORY Exp Time 123ms)
Sorry if I've posted in the wrong area.
Last edited by jase; 23-11-2007 at 09:57 PM.
Reason: wrong area?
I looked at it through the family room window with 20x80 binoculars last night, when the moon was just starting to rise. Holmes is fainter than before and more elongated but it is still an amazing object.
Here is a recent image: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/obser.../11886291.html
Heres a pic from tonight of 17P/ Holmes from my backyard, just a tripod shot with the 400D @ 18mm, image slightly cropped, you can see M31 to the left hand edge too.
It has a noticeable elongated inner coma, surface brightness is dropping.
I was going to take a telescope pic but the grass is wet as, im waiting until tomorrow or sunday to mow the lawn so i can get my tripod out there to set up!
Heres a pic from tonight of 17P/ Holmes from my backyard, just a tripod shot with the 400D @ 18mm, image slightly cropped, you can see M31 to the left hand edge too.
It has a noticeable elongated inner coma, surface brightness is dropping.
I was going to take a telescope pic but the grass is wet as, im waiting until tomorrow or sunday to mow the lawn so i can get my tripod out there to set up!
nice!
