Lulin last night 23rd Feb

[Garyh]

Hi everyone!
Well at last I managed to get some clear skies (first for three weeks!) to get another peek to see what Comet Lulin was up to! Was a real waiting game with low cloud and fog rolling in and out after midnight and not staying clear enough for a 3 min exposure! but it paid off around 4am with a good clear break for 1/2 hour and managed to get 5 good subs in before the fog returned. This one was the last for the night and is a 3 min exposure @ iso 800 with the 8" scope and 20D. Was suprised at how much the dust tail had grown and still sporting a Ion tail which showed as two faint anti-tails. The larger ending with a broad fishtail. Very unusual I though and originally thought is was a reflection. but it`s real...:) Could just see it naked eye even with my crappy eyesight! Shall try again tonight.:thumbsup:
Image is full frame but reduced to 30% for posting!
cheers and clear skies
Gary

[kinetic]

Awesome Gary,

that seems to be a good combination of CCD size and FL!

Steve

[anthony.tony]

Nice shot Gary.

[renormalised]

Nice shot Gary!!

Lucky Lulin is as far away as it is. If it had hit here, that pretty green luminescence would be our undoing, as it's actually CN (cyanide) that's in the coma of the comet, glowing green.

[Liz]

Beautiful shot Gary :thumbsup:

[cookie8]

Just awesome Gary. Wow!!! definitely worth a all-night vigil.
Cheers

[RobF]

WTG Gary!

[StephenM]

Spectacular shot Gary! Very well done :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Stephen

[h0ughy]

Gary that is an awesome shot!! brilliant

[yarael]

Thank you .. fantastic shot :-)

[RB]

Oh my goodness, what a fantastic shot Gary !!!
I just love it and always look forward to your work.

:thumbsup:

[Sonia]

That is just lovely!
Can't see it here yet with the cloudy skies. I hope to this week.

[Analog6]

Fantastic!

[peter_4059]

Great shot Gary. Worth waiting up all night for.

[Garyh]

Thanks everyone for the comments and having a peek! :)
Did some more last night between the high cloud with the 200mm lens. Would be a ideal target for a 300-400mm lens now. Still could see it naked eye and nice in the 10 x 50`s :thumbsup:

[iceman]

Stunning image, Gary. I'm still yet to see it. But hopefully this morning, with Saturn!

[gregbradley]

That's a beauty.

Greg.

[Quark]

Very nice effort Gary

Cheers
Trevor

[Dennis]

Hi Gary

That is one of the best I have seen; you’ve produced a magnificent portrait of this fleeting object.

Cheers

Dennis

[spearo]

very nice indeed!
Shot at F/10?
(i'm taking notes for when i have a go
....3 min subs, ISO 800, ...)
frank

[peeb61]

Way to go Gary...top shot!
Well worth the wait.

Paul

[anthony.tony]

Nice Shot Gary.

[Ric]

A beauty Gary, you've done a great job with that image.

Cheers

[Garyh]

Thanks again everyone,

Frank, images shot at F/4.6. Having a fast newt really helps with comets!:)

Here is the 5 stack version. Done in DSS with alignment on comet and stars.
DSS actually done a decent job of it I reckon. Pushed fairly hard with lots of playing in PS.
:thumbsup:

[RB]

Excellent !!!

[spearo]

Thanks Gary
may have to try both F11 and F7 this weekend
cheers
frank

[iceman]

Fantastic image!

[gaa_ian]

Thats Awesome Gary.
I would just like to see it ONCE !!!
Clouds ....rain .....rain ..... clouds
Ahhh .... the wet season :cloudy:

[gregbradley]

That's a wonderful image you really got it there.

Another approach is to autoguide on the comet itself and then take a separate star image and then layer the comet image onto the star image so you get your round stars with the comet with long exposure.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

Hi Ian,

It is nothing visually so you aren't missing much there. I spent quite a while trying to find it in perfectly dark and clear skies and I couldn't even find it!

Greg.

[Outbackmanyep]

Hi Gary,
I like that last one, if you look closely at the tail to the left, which is the ion tail, you'll notice the "tail streamers" coming from the coma like rays ,and the kink in the same tail is from a DE or disconnection event. Very impressive!

[prokyon]

Wow, a very very good shot!! Great work!

werner

[rwong]

Very nice shot Gary. Congratulations!

[gaa_ian]

Thanks Greg
That is somewhat of a relief
Still would be nice to see the night sky again though !

[starclad]

:eyepop:arhh what a shot.

[bluescope]

Beautiful image mate !

:thumbsup:

[Garyh]

Thanks everyone! I must admit it was a bit of a rush process. Will do it again with more care..
Been quiet lucky the last few nights with clear skies..lots of comet Lulin shots to process! :)

[Octane]

Gary,

As usual, top shelf work. :)

Regards,
Humayun