Comet Love Joy from Lake Alexandrina

[Paul Haese]

Went out this morning with Tony Virgo and capture Comet Love Joy at Lake Alexandrina on Point Sturt. We were pretty happy with what we could see by eye and I think we are both happy with the photographic results.

Portrait of a Sun Grazer (http://paulhaese.net/LoveJoy22Dec2011.html)

The moon, Lake and comet in pre dawn light. (http://paulhaese.net/LoveJoy22Dec2011predawnlight.html)

[rogerg]

Nice :)

Like the blues.

[renormalised]

Nice shots, Paul:)

Tried myself this morning, but too much skyglow from town and hazy.

[iceman]

Excellent results Paul, I love the landscape shot.

How long were each of the exposures?

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys.

Mike initially I was using around 43 seconds at 3200 but as the light got brighter I went down to 2000 with several increments. The landscape shot was ISO 2000 and it was for 35 seconds (just going to amend the info under the image there)

[Paul Haese]

Just another frame of the comet up close. Unfortunately it has elongated stars, but you can see more of the comet though.:)

Click here (http://paulhaese.net/LoveJoy22Dec2011upclose.html)for image

[jjjnettie]

I'm so jealous of all these photos that are being shared.
Beaut work Paul.

[gbeal]

Me too, nothing but clouds here at the moment, so jealous.
Nice shots Paul.
Gary

[swannies1983]

Great shots Paul :)

I wasn't happy with my vantage point this morning so I'm going for a drive a little later tonight to find somewhere darker. I reckon I have identified a few good places near McLaren Vale.

[kinetic]

Dan, there were irritating hills generated pre-dawn clouds which could have
ruined even my modest set. We ended up setting up at the Aldinga airstrip
as time was running out looking for a clear SE spot.
See the clouds boiling and bubbling in my set as a vid here:
http://youtu.be/YWBRpYnQe_M
McLaren Vale unfortunately has the hills in the SE as a backdrop and
that must limit the elevation a few degrees. Best spot is Paul's and Tony's
choice of further south over Alexandrina....

Superb stuff Paul!!!!


Edit: reading above: Not really Dan, we just plain ran out of time looking for elevated spots at MV....
So before I spent more time looking I turned in to the entry road to Aldinga airstrip.
As it turns out...not ideal, powerlines etc. good luck! We'll be out again tonight, might drag the
girls along this time. It is worth the view eh :)

Steve

[swannies1983]

hhmm...thanks for the warning Steve. Where abouts in McLaren Vale did you try? I have looked a Google Maps and there looks to be a couple of elevated places towards the NW of McLaren Vale. Do you know Barytes Road? Long Gully Road? Neill Road?

[multiweb]

I really like the one with the moon in it. That's an awesome view. Perfect composition with the lake. :thumbsup:

[Lester]

Nice views there Paul. Good on ya. Wonderful to have a bright comet in our skies again after a long break. All the best.

[Troy]

Nice images Paul, you done well to capture the event and I think I'm right in saying the comet survived the event! :)

[Paul Haese]

Sorry JJJ, but hands up those that got to see the Lunar Eclipse at totality recently? Just our turn. Mind you seeing to big comets in the last 5 years is pretty damn cool.:) You'll get to see it JJJ and all you east coasters.

[Paul Haese]

Indeed it is.

[astronobob]

Real nice collection Paul, Nice way to end the year out i,d say with this tropical Cyclone Fina off our East coast for a while yet, Auuuggh !
Must grab some shuteye, have another early one to see more cloud, yay ? ? all's good ! As you say, the eclipse was good, have to take what comes yep !
Happy capturing !

[Quark]

Super work Paul and what a great backdrop with the lake, both stunning images. Hope to be down making waves on the lake early in the new year.

Regards
Trevor

[Jen]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: very nice shots Paul :D

[Ric]

Great image Paul

Love the composition.

[michael_sa]

Fantastic photograph Paul, well done.
I'm in Goolwa, but too cloudy this morning to see anything.

Michael

[shelltree]

Just breathtaking Paul! I particularly love the landscape view with the moon in the frame. Astronomical! ;)

A couple of quick questions if I may. What time was your exposure for these shots? And did you focus to infinity or use a mask etc? I'm fine when it comes to capturing nature and the ocean but a bit of a noob when it comes to astrophotography and would love some pointers so if I have the chance to shoot Lovejoy, I have as much chance of getting it right as possible.

Cheers :)

[Paul Haese]

Michael, we were down that way this morning ourselves. Virgs and I drove 215 or so km's and came up wit fog and cloud and more fog. Hoping for better conditions tomorrow for our last chance at getting a great shot.

Shelley, these exposures were around the 40 second mark with a high ISO. Aim for something like 2000 and up if you can if not use a longer exposure and use a lower ISO to reduce noise. To focus use a bright object in the focus box. I use a distant light (stars don't work but lights do though) to keep the focus right and then take the lens of auto focus and go to manual. That will get you in the box seat. Don't bother with a mask and infinity is often not right from one camera to the next. Best of luck with your endeavours.

[michael_sa]

I woke at about 3:30am then again about 5:30 this morning, both times the sky to the east was totally clouded over - so I went back to bed. Will be trying again for tomorrow morning - though there is some low level cloud just starting to roll over as I type this.
I was intending to head out around 'Beacon 19' area if all is clear.

Michael

[Astroman]

{puts hand up} :party:

Like the widefield landscape shot Paul. Looks good over the lake.

[Matt Wastell]

More mouth watering images - excellent stuff Paul!
AAARRRRRRGH the clouds!!!!

[danielsun]

Excellent work there Paul, love the colours and a nice thick tail.:thumbsup:

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys. It's been a couple of tough days. Had a sleep for a bit now and clouded out in Adelaide for the next couple of days, but if it clears a bit tonight I might just head down the freeway for one more look.

[dj gravelrash]

Serious quality m8...well done!!:)

[michael_sa]

For what it's worth Paul, skies are totally clear down here at the moment - hopefully it stays that way for the next 5 or 6 hours (or so)

Michael

[Adelastro1]

Great shots once again Paul. I went to the lookout near Tungkillo and got some good shots but with a bit of cloud cover unfortunately. They're in the main stream for Lovejoy on here if you want to take a look.
I'm in Bordertown for Xmas now so I'm off to my usual photo hotspot over the next few nights so hopefully I'll get some good ones to post on here!

[Gendo]

Those are some lovely shots Paul. :)

[naskies]

Beautiful, Paul. The portrait shot almost looks like it was shot out of a plane :)