Deep Comet Lovejoy

[tornado33]

Hi all.
I went to Senic Lookout, Newcastle to image the comet rising over the ocean, with Newcastle's light pollution behind me.
I took a long contonious series of images, here is a stack of the best of them, from when the comet was high enough to see, but before too much dawn light washed it out.

43x 6 sec ISO1600 images with 50mm f1.8 lens, EOS600D, fixed tripod mounted.
Full res. version here (http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/Scott/lovejoy43x6secsiso160050mmf1.8l.jpg )
Aligned and stacked in Iris software, then finished with Photoshop.
Scott

[iceman]

Stunning image Scott!

[jjjnettie]

Spectacular!!

[suma126]

great image and nice processing:thumbsup:

[maphilli14]

WOW!!!!

:jawdrop:

[iceman]

I've just posted it on Google+ and Facebook, and it's been shared by Fraser - so it's getting a tonne of views now :)

Congrats Scott!

[xcoupeb]

Fantastic!

[tornado33]

Many thanks all.
Its so much better imaging it over the ocean , away from light pollution, and Senic Lookout is 300 feet high so gets us out of the sea spray and mist. Was a bit of cloud on the horizon though and some haze. I will go in again on Christmas morning if clear.
Scott

[[1ponders]]

Nice to see you still have the touch Scott! Absolutely stunning! :bowdown: dare i say APOD?

[midnight]

Fantastic detail in the tail. Well done Scott.

Darrin...

[michael_sa]

Spectacular image. Well done.
The full res version is brilliant.

Michael

[kinetic]

In.....credible!!!!!!:eyepop::thumb sup:

Edit: are there any doubts about the brightness of this incredible comet????
Inverted Scott's image using James' curve above.

Steve

[jamestom]

WHAT A B-E-A-UUUUUUTIFULLLL SHOT.........
I have added a curve to the shot bringing out more clarity again.......What a shot Scott......

[Paul Haese]

Nice, this is where we all have been trying to head. Damn cloud has been inconvenient on several occassions now. Hoping for a view like this laster next week.

[Osirisra]

wowzers! epic shot!

[Liz]

Gulp!! Beautiful indeed!!

[Lester]

Very nice view Scott, thanks. Cloudy here this morning.

All the best.

[renormalised]

Exceptional shot there, Scott:):)

[gregbradley]

Great shot Scott.

So the comet rises more in the east than SE if you imaged it rising over the ocean?

Greg.

[Quark]

Simply Superb image there Scott, a real corker.

Cheers
Trevor

[John Hothersall]

That is splendid for a tripod with great tail detail.

John.

[ngcles]

Hi All,

Congratulations Scott, really beautiful!


Best,

Les D

[Outbackmanyep]

Great effort, one of the best yet!
:thumbsup:

[bartman]

Yep that is truly well shot and processed!
Awesome Scott!
Cheers
Bartman

[RB]

Fantastic work Scott !

:)

[h0ughy]

Well Scott i was there with you when you got these - was a magical sight - the comet not you ;)

you did well mate

[zardos123]

stunning scott, looks like the weather will be better on xmas it will be great to see what you come up with will be hard to beat the last effort!!!
brad

[deniseselmo]

Simply fantastic. I haven1t been able to see it due to the immense light pollution in São Paulo, but this photo just makes me want to keep on trying! Congratulations!

[mswhin63]

Damn that is nice

[shahgazer]

Awesome! Great composition. Keep it coming!

[Adelastro1]

Wow amazing shot Scott!

[alan meehan]

Brilliant shot Scott it was good to share the morning with you with such a great comet
AL

[astronobob]

A ton of Hectic activity in there Scott, Just Awesome !
Just Curious, did you use 'In Camera Noise Reduction' between your subs ?

[tornado33]

Many thanks all,most appreciated.
Yes I did use in camera n/r even though exposures were only 6 sec.
Still working on to days images.
Scott

[acropolite]

:bowdown: amazing Scott.

[tornado33]

Thanks everyone
While waiting for Iris software to align my fixed tripod 50mm images for today, Ive put up this shot from yesterday, taken with a 60mm f2.8 Zenit fisheye lens from Dave.
Single 15 sec ISO800 image with 600D
Scott

[dpastern]

^^ what he said!!! Very nice shot!

Dave

[tornado33]

Hi all
here is todays effort. The conditions were better and the comet more visible to the eye, though there was still cumulous cloud on the horizon. here is a compilation of the best frames I captured.

37x6secs ISO1600, 50mmf1.8 lens EOS600D In camera N/R on. I had to have a few goes at aligning as Iris software didnt like the fact the stars moved so much during the imaging.

Larger sized shot here (http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/Scott/lovejoy37x6seciso1600x50mmf1.8b.jpg ).
Ive got a lot more frames, I might see if I can do something with them later on.
Fancy imaging a bright comet on Christmas Day. Comet Lovejoy really is a Christmas Comet!
Scott

[Osirisra]

Absolutely Stunning! :eyepop:

[tornado33]

Its 4am and im at senic lookout as I type this time with the sampson gem mount tracking the comet

[dvj]

Ditto

what everyone else has said

and the numerous short exposures is a great idea

[tornado33]

Hi again.
I wish Id taken in the mount on previous days, it made a great difference. Sadly, today it was not good conditions, a lot of cloud intruding, but I went ahead regardless, this time tracking by using my 1986 vintage "Sampson" GEM mount, and increasing to 30 second exposures. I didnt use in camera N/R to save time and get more exposures in. Was a lot of cloud in each sub but as it was moving it only shows up badly in the bottom part of final image

Image is 69x30 secs ISO800, 50mm f1.8@ f2.8. I just set camera on multiexposure, 30 secs locked down shutter release remote switch and let it go, occasionally interrupting proceedings to check how it was going. The thick cloud near horizon caused some alingment problems with the stars (as there werent any) hence the distortions near the bottom of image.

Larger sized version here (http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/Scott/lovejoy69x30secsiso800x50mmf2.8x26x 600ddec2011l.jpg)

Scott

[swannies1983]

Nice work. How's it looking naked eye? Noticed much of a drop off in brightness?

[strongmanmike]

Great shots Scott, some fine work there, it looks so bright :thumbsup:

Good to see the Samson still doing its thing decades after its construction.

Mike

[tornado33]

Thanks all.
Yep still holding its brightness well even though some cloud and haze could see it easily.

The ol sampson mount is going well. Easy to transport when only using camera and small lenses no counterweights needed as shaft heavy enough on its own. Drive
corrector runs off car battery or 240v
Scott

[naskies]

Great job - probably one of the best close up shots I've seen of the comet yet. I like the colours in your first image - it just looks so majestic the way it streaks. You've inspired me to aim for something similar tonight... clouds permitting!