Rob_K
12-03-2015, 01:32 PM
Sorry, not Jupiter! ;) Comet C/2015 C2 (SWAN) was discovered in SWAN images in late February by Dr Rob Matson (USA), Michael Mattiazzo (Vic, Australia) and V Bezugly (Ukraine), independently. Terry Lovejoy was able to image it and Michael Mattiazzo followed up with images and a visual observation. Very unusual to have a 'relatively' bright comet sitting in the sky and only be discovered through space-based imagery. Maybe it had an outburst.
Anyway, I managed to image it twice, before and after perihelion. Very difficult target - first was at low altitude in moonlight, second was at very low altitude in twilight and smoky air at a solar elongation of just 26.5 degrees.
The comet has now disappeared into evening twilight in the west at my location. Not the world's greatest images LOL but I'm pretty pleased nonetheless as images of this comet are pretty rare. The comet was tiny and condensed with a visual magnitude of between 11.5 and 12. :)
Cheers -
Anyway, I managed to image it twice, before and after perihelion. Very difficult target - first was at low altitude in moonlight, second was at very low altitude in twilight and smoky air at a solar elongation of just 26.5 degrees.
The comet has now disappeared into evening twilight in the west at my location. Not the world's greatest images LOL but I'm pretty pleased nonetheless as images of this comet are pretty rare. The comet was tiny and condensed with a visual magnitude of between 11.5 and 12. :)
Cheers -