Comet Loneos C2007 F1, 5 Nov 07

[Rob_K]

Phew, it's a tough target! So low, right above the setting sun - no chance of a really dark sky before it sets. This is about the best I could do, just using Canon 400D on tripod (mind you, focus could be better but I was in panic mode! :P). Various exposures, 6-25sec at F/3.5, ISO 1600, stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and levels stretched in Photoshop. 21 shots in all.

You can see the comet head quite clearly in 12x50 binoculars (easier than M4 in the twilight), but I couldn't see the tail. Faint trace of it in photo. Text & blank versions attached.

Also a stack of 11 20-25 sec exposures, really mangled in PS to bring up more detail - not a pretty shot at all I'm afraid :whistle:

Cheers -

[gaa_ian]

Great effort to catch this Comet Rob !
It has been neglected with all the excitement over comet holmes

[iceman]

Wow, that's excellent Rob! You've given me hope of seeing this one, since I can't see Holmes from here.

Mind you, my western horizon is just as bad as my North. Needs a road trip!

[Outbackmanyep]

Great stuff Rob!
Nice images!
Michael Mattiazzo imaged it and said the tail measured over a degree long, John Drummond has a fantastic pic of it on his website!

Keep on the trail, if you can, see if you can get some afocal images of it using a widefield eyepiece on your telescope and a short exposure (2 to 5 secs) with your 400D @ 1600 ISO

Cheers!

[fringe_dweller]

Onya Rob :) love these digital cameras for this sort of stuff!

OBM - Michael has about 5d of tail in his shot, he says on his site. and has it about mag 6 and fading. :C

[Rob_K]

Thanks all! Outbackmanyep, Michael's latest image shows 5 degrees of tail - wow! Mine faintly shows about 3 degrees.
http://www.yp-connect.net/~mmatti/

Afocal's no good, as I can't track with my scope - even a few seconds gives considerable trailing. Might try it again in a few days - bit of a juggling act really, between dimming comet, darkening sky, and shooting off a tripod with limited equipment. Using the kit lens, I can shoot wide (18mm) for about 30-sec without bad trailing. If I zoom in at 55mm, can only go 10 sec, and restricted to F/5.6 max.

Lesser of two weevils really - stay wide & opened right up, with lots more subs! And better focus :P! Just happy to get a memento of the comet's visit I guess.........:thumbsup:

Cheers -

[fringe_dweller]

hehe yep they are pressure shoots these bright comets in gaps between night and day! hate trying to polar align and drift align in broad daylight :nerd: (on an evening field/away trip i mean) i prefer the morning ones believe it or not, at least you can get set up in comfort :)

[Alchemy]

Well done ! a tough target to tackle.. its always good to see diversity posted:thumbsup: