Please help! finding the comet, please

[Analog6]

Seeing as I seem to have totally stuffed up my picture (otehr post), can someone post a pic of the general star field where Lulin is appearing, and do it today so I can look at it before tonight.

I've hardly been out observing in dark skies since we moved up here 6 years ago as we are in a light polluted area. I thought I had Saturn, but I cannot post the general star field shot from here at work (it's not this one, which was cropped - I'll post the full frame when I get home also).

Will do it when I get home. And suggestions on exposure etc using 300mm lens would appreciated. It's the SIgma 28-300 zoom. I also have a 500mm mirror lens but it is fised at f8 and as I use an adapter on the EOSD i lose a stop or two. Would this be any good, or is the field of view too small.

I have a 20D and 30D body and 2 tripods, so I can do them both at once.

PS - I went out at lunchtime and bough some binocs, hopefully that wiill help.

[Dennis]

Here is a wide field showing the E Horizon with Saturn and Lulin towards the centre of screen, as shown by The Sky 6 Pro, set for Brisbane, 23rd Feb 2009 at 10:00pm AEST.

Cheers

Dennis

[Analog6]

Thanks so much Dennis, that's just what I wanted. I know where I went wrong last night now and have, as I mentioned, bought a pair of decent binocs today.

Below are links to the 2 full frames of my images of last night. I thought I had Saturn, I must be losing my marbles with age.

The first one is the full frame of the one I posted the crop of. Second one is an adjacent portion of sky.

http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/Analog6/?action=view&current=_MG_3815-1.jpg

http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/Analog6/?action=view&current=_MG_3817.jpg

[Dennis]

Hi Odille

Nice shots!

I created a “Field Of View” indicator in Starry Night Pro Plus 6 for a 300mm lens based on a formula from Michael Covington’s book “Astrophotography for the Amateur”.

The FOV came out as 4.2 x 2.8 degrees and this is what it looks like with Saturn and Lulin in the frame. Good luck with the photos!

Cheers

Dennis

[Analog6]

I did not get out with the camera last night as I had a migraine. I did stagger out to the verandah at 3am and use my binocs and found it - I didn't realise it would just look like a fuaay ball. I located it from the 'half circle' of stars visible in your wide field shot Dennis, so many thanks.

And what terrific program is that? I downloaded (free) Night Vision but of course it does not show the comet!

I am inspired greatly by your second 'visualisation', will go out tonight. As I look at the sky it is moving towards the east (as I face north) or towards the constellation of Leo, yes?

[glenc]

Here is a map showing the comets position http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=53882&d=1234724392
It is near Saturn tonight and tomorrow night and near Regulus at the end of the month.

[Analog6]

Thanks to you all. I got some decent shots (considering i only have a camera) - posted here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=41623