Comet C/2009 F4 (McNaught) - 15th Oct

[rogerg]

Hi all,

This comet was in a convenient location for photographing it, and at reasonable magnitude (~14 apparently). Few others are in viewable locations for me at the moment.

I've got no idea if it's increasing or decreasing in brightness etc, just simply took a pic in amongst other tasks I was doing with the observatory. Perhaps if someone knows the comet's info they can add some commentary.

12" SCT @ f/10 (~2900mm)
ST8-XME @ bin 2x2
Stracking at the comet rate's (PME), otherwise unguided.
10 x 3 minute exposures

Roger.

[iceman]

Very cool Roger!

[cometcatcher]

Very nice pic and nice little tail. Most of the comet pages I visit chug out at mag 14 or greater.

[Larryp]

Nice, Roger!

[anthony.tony]

Nice Work - Tony

[anthony.tony]

Hello what Constellation is the Comet in - reguard's Tony

[cometcatcher]

I'm having trouble finding a Comet C/2004 F4 (McNaught) anywhere on the net. There's a C/2004 F4 (Bradfield) but I can't find a McNaught with that designation.

Anyone have a link?

[rogerg]

Thanks all for your responses, much appreciated. It's fun snapping pics of comets.

I've attached a screen shot from TheSkyX showing the location of the comet, with surrounding constellations. Looks to me like it's in Dorado, but depending on the boundaries of the constellations I could be wrong.

Roger.

[rogerg]

Oops, and it's 2009, not 2004, which is why you are having trouble finding it! Sorry about that, I will correct the thread...

[cometcatcher]

Thanks. I can find it in Stellarium now. :)

[cometcatcher]

I see it makes a close pass on October 31 to a mag 10 galaxy NGC1543. Might make a good pair.

[anthony.tony]

Thanks thats makes more sense - I''ll try and image it - Tony