L4 PANSTARRS this morning with it's forked tail

[rogerg]

Hi all,

This morning's photo of PANSTARRS with a heavily stretched version showing the fork in it's tail (two seperate tails or is it just the one?) It reminds me of photo's I took back in 2004 of C/2011 Q4 (NEAT) where I photographed a fork of about the same angle seperation and length/density.

http://rogergroom.com/astro-photography/comet-photography/photographs-of-comet-c2011-l4-pannstarrs/

The latest two images on the page are the same, but processed differently.

I've also attached some old images of Q4 from 2004.

Regards,
Roger.

[Paul Haese]

Nice images Roger. This is looking very bright right now and I wonder how bright it will get. Are you actually getting up to take a look at it right now or is this all purely automated?

[peeb61]

Nice Roger! Love em.

Paul

[rogerg]

Thanks Paul. Yes, all automated. I'd love to have the sleep habits, metabolism, and work life to allow me to get up early in the morning and enjoy astronomy, but I just don't :(

Because it's all automated the shots are 60s and tracking at Sidereal. I have spent some time working on making the PME track at the comet's rate during automation but haven't finalised that yet. It would also be nice to be able to offset the centre of the comet in automation, so more tail fits on the image, but that's even more tricky (when it's a fast moving comet).

Edit: I should clarify - all the L4 PANSTARRS shots are automated, some of the other comet shots like K5 LINEAR I have done some tracking shots manually such as the 180s exposures. K5 is up in the early evening so it's easier for me to do that.



Thanks :)

[Larryp]

Great images, Roger

[astroboy]

Good one Roger , looks like we will be in for a good show.

[Matt Wastell]

Hi Roger
You have a super collection of images there - great to see - thanks.

[universe24]

Nicely captured Roger!:thumbsup:

[rogerg]

Thanks :)


Hopefully :) All depends what shape the tail takes on.


Thanks, I'm glad the fact that there's a growing collection over a time period is appreciated.


Thanks :)

[ew]

Great shots, nice website and images :thumbsup:

[rogerg]

Updated with this morning's image.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Exceptional work Roger!!

Panstarrs is developing nicely, it's tail structure reminds me of comet Hale Bopp.
We can only hope that it turns out like Hale Bopp.
Hope to image in the morning myself.

Cheers,

Justin.