Comet Lovejoy 28th December 2011

[Lester]

Hi all, this was my first good view of the comet since 23rd December, although still hindered by cloud. Cannot fit the comet into 50mm lens FOV. First image is taken with 50mm lens at F2.2 and 30 second exposure, using Canon 20Da at ISO 800; tracked with Celestron 8" fork mount.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu109/Lester_045/Comet%20images/ebc23682.jpg

Second image taken with 24mm lens at F2, 1 minute exposure. The lights of Port Lincoln at the bottom right corner.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu109/Lester_045/Comet%20images/561b4fae.jpg

[tornado33]

Nice shots there. Though tail length is still long, its surface brightness is fading, more closely matching that of the milk way. I note the tail is more blue as gases take over from dust in the tail. Note also the slight bend in it, probably changes in the solar wind.
Scott

[Lester]

Thanks for your comments Scott. I was not sure what caused the blue tail, but was interested to see the upper half showing this colour.

[Clayton]

Nice work Lester:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[renormalised]

Nice shots:)

Scott's comments are right....looks like the tail is mainly gases at present. Still a bit of dust around the head, but not as much as before which is one of the reasons why it's dimming.

[Lester]

Thanks Rob and Carl for your comments. Does anyone know what the orbit period of this comet is?

[spacezebra]

Great captures Lester

Looks like you have also captured something else in No.2

Cheers Petra d.

[Lester]

Thanks Petra, yes a meteor was caught during the exposure.

All the best.

[renormalised]

Something like 666 years. Geez, don't let the wackos see that number!!!!:):P

[naskies]

I really like your first one - the diffraction pattern on Alpha/Beta Cent really makes them look like "stars" :)

[jjjnettie]

It's so much fainter that before. Every night brings a significant change.
But there are still plenty of nights ahead of us imaging the head of the comet.
Beaut images Lester.
thanks for sharing

[Lester]

Thanks Carl, Dave and JJ for your comments. Yes although getting fainter it is still brighter than any comet I have seen for a long time.

All the best for 2012.

[Quark]

Very nice images Lester, tracking certainly makes a difference, it is amazing just how much the comet has faded since your first images.

Well done.
Regards
Trevor

[SkyViking]

Wonderful images. It's great to follow the comet's progress via all the top quality images here.

[Lester]

Thanks Trevor and Rolf for your comments.

All the best for 2012.

[acropolite]

A fine effort, especially considering how much it has faded, nice to see some tracked images. :thumbsup:

[dpastern]

Wow @ both of those shots. Even following your settings (without tracking though) I could get nothing even remotely like your shots quality. Can't blame the equipment, so must be this photographer (me) simply sucks at comets ;-)



I'd heard 340,000 years. Not sure if that is indeed correct or not though.

Dave

[Shiraz]

more really fine images Lester. regards Ray

[Lester]

Thanks Phil, Dave and Ray for your comments. Dave I don't think I have any special skills at this, as I just point the gear and shoot. What camera are you using? Are your skies relatively dark? Mine are not dark as country skies with Port Lincoln only 5kms away in the south and illuminates the sky for 20-30 degrees.

All the best for 2012.

ps cloudy here again this morning.

[John K]

Very nice Lester.

All the best 2012. Saturn and Mars await.

John.

[Lester]

Thanks John for your comments. I am looking forward to Mars early 2012. All the best for 2012.

[dpastern]

Canon 60D. I'm an experienced photography terrestial wise, but suck @ astro images imho. Images were taken around 5km outside of Ipswich, so probably similar conditions to yourself at a guess.

Dave