First comet attempt-lovejoy

[aarong]

Hi all,

The clouds finally cleared for a couple of nights, so I had a go at imaging comet Lovejoy. This is my first real look at a comet, so it was exciting.

The pictures here are from my canon DSLR and 100-400 mm lens at 400mm (f/5.6). Piggybacked on my LX90. No guiding for the 1st image (couldn't find a star to guide on). It was quite a learning curve to process the image.

Within the frame is a small galaxy and globular cluster. I ran the image solver script in PI and annotated their names for interest (2nd image).

29/12/2014 image
20 x 50 sec lights
30 x 50 sec darks

30/12/2014
60 x 2min lights
30 x 2 min darks
PHD2 guiding

Processed in PixInsight and PS

I tried getting an LRGB image through the lx90, with the 0.63 reducer, but I need another go at trying to process it. Not happy with it yet.

Cheers,
Aaron

[rustigsmed]

nice job aaron you have some good structure in the tail!

[cometcatcher]

These are very nice Aaron.

[raymo]

Lovely, Aaron.
raymo

[aarong]

Thanks all! I would like to have another go and get more detail in the tail after the moon has gone. I need to do some research into what exposures are best to use. Any advice?

Cheers,
Aaron

[cometcatcher]

I think you're doing everything right already. As long as you follow the usual DSO rules. Get away from LP, high elevation ASL helps. Photograph it as high in the sky as possible etc.

2014 Q2 has mainly an ion tail which is more subject to solar wind so it changes fairly rapidly over even a few minutes. There are two ways to photograph it. Either keep the total exposure short to "freeze" tail motion or go long for a smeared effect. It's a bit like waterfall photography. Short total time make for a frozen effect and longer time will make for a "flowed" look to it.

Just make sure your individual subs don't have too much motion.

[aarong]

Thanks Kevin! Interesting info about the tail too.

[blink138]

cheezes yes i have got some advice aaron, my advice is to give me some advice ha ha!
i think that is absolutely fab for a first go mate!
pat

[mswhin63]

Damn nice, You seem to have the tail structure which I have not been successful with as yet. Good on Ya'

[traveller]

That's a great effort Aaron, you should be very pleased with the result.
I think there is a comet stacking option in DSS, have you tried that?
Bo

[aarong]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

No Bo I haven't tried the comet stacking option in DSS. I used the comet stacker script in PI instead. Is there much difference?