Comet C/2014 E2 Jacques May 22

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #1 23-05-2014, 12:07 PM

Endless frustration with the weather, this comet won't be around for much longer for us in the southern hemisphere. I managed to squeeze 19 x 30 second frames between the clouds for this shot. The double stars are tracking offsets, caused by cloud in the middle of the session. I still can't get Stars + comet tracking in DSS to look like anything other than a mess. Comet tracking alone looks more gooderer.

19 x 30 seconds, ED100 at F9, Pentax K-x.

Octane (Humayun) · #2 23-05-2014, 01:45 PM

That looks lovely.

Which constellation can it be found in, and what is the best time at the moment?

H

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #3 23-05-2014, 03:30 PM

Thanks Humayun, the comet is presently in Monoceros, (just above Orion) in the west just after sunset, magnitude 7.9.

http://theskylive.com/c2014e2-tracker

rustigsmed (Russell) · #4 23-05-2014, 04:11 PM

nice work Kevin

Octane (Humayun) · #5 23-05-2014, 04:27 PM

Awesome, thanks.

If the infernal clouds disappear, I might give it a go!

H

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #6 23-05-2014, 04:51 PM

Thanks Russell.

Humayan, I found it a relatively easy though small target in my 120mm and 100mm refractors with a 28mm SW LET eyepiece.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #7 23-05-2014, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

That looks lovely.

Which constellation can it be found in, and what is the best time at the moment?

H, on the Gold Coast it sets fairly early in the evening - around 20:20 at the moment and getting earlier over the next month. Just after 17:30 by June 20th.

May 23: RA ~6h50m Dec +6d51m

peeb61 (Paul) · #8 23-05-2014, 06:40 PM

Nice work Kevin.
Big thumbs up!

Paul

anthony.tony · #9 23-05-2014, 06:40 PM

http://www.livecometdata.com/comets/c2014-e2-jacques/ - This is a Good website Live Data from Comets - This is the Jacques page - Tony- I got a visual Glimpse of it earlier tonight my trouble now is Trees and branches in the way. Tony

tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook) · #10 23-05-2014, 06:49 PM

Cool Kevin!

Must get back into some comet imaging.

Cheers,

Justin.

Octane (Humayun) · #11 23-05-2014, 07:56 PM

Cheers, Andrew!

Kevin, I was going to go after it with the FSQ and 7.5mm eyepiece.

H

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #12 23-05-2014, 08:55 PM

Thanks Paul.

Thanks for the page Tony. I'll bookmark that one.

Justin, your 8" F4 Newt is ideal for comet hunting. Not sure why I used the refractor actually. Anything it can do, a big low F ratio Newt can do it faster!

Dunno about a 7.5mm eyepiece H. It shows better at low powers. But give it a go.

Speaking of fast Newtonians, the cloud cleared for a whole 2 minutes tonight, but I had the 6" F5 waiting for it. Too short to need comet tracking. There's a tail at 11 O'Clock, but I need more cloud free time to bring it out.

Details - 6" F5 Newtonian, 4 x 30 seconds at ISO 1600, Pentax K-x.