Comet PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4) in Cetus

[Octane (Humayun)]

All,

My first astro image in about a year(?)

I'm just happy I got to glimpse it. I was hoping to capture Lemmon in a panorama, too, but, ran out of time.

This image is straight out of Digital Photo Professional at a low JPG quality rating so it would fit the 200 KB limit (please forgive the JPG compression artifacts). Will give it the Photoshop treatment when I have time. I just wanted to post it as-is while the comet is topical!

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
3.2s f/2.8 @ 200.0mm iso2000

I'm glad I just got to see it, but, to capture it, has topped it off for me.

H

[colinmlegg (Colin)]

Looking good mate

[astronobob (Bob)]

Coool Capture H , quite a lot of tail in there too, Nice job !

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Lovely image, H

[h0ughy (David)]

nice work H

[SkyViking (Rolf)]

Awesome catch, and very nice to see a new astro image from you H
It's interesting how this comet looks quite similar to Hale-Bobb back in 1997, though it's not as bright.

[trek1701 (Mark)]

Good one!

Did you try one on your 200mm f2.8 fixed focal length?

Cheers Mark

[Octane (Humayun)]

Colin, Bob, Laurie, David, Rolf and Mark,

Thanks, heaps, guys! It's been a long time between drinks. I've become inspired in recent times and I hope to get out this weekend and do some deep space stuff. Especially since I got promoted at work, I no longer have to work weekends. It's bliss!

Mark, I didn't try with the prime lens. I wanted the versatility of the zoom to try and get different features of the silhouetted landscape in the frame.

The 70-200mm is exceedingly sharp and contrasty, even at f/2.8 -- it's scary how good this lens is. I recently shot a wedding with it. There were 800 photos taken and even looking at the large thumbnails in DPP, I can tell which images were taken with that lens. The images just stand out.

Having said that, if the clouds stay at bay, I might go for one last hurrah and try with the prime tonight.

H

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

I wondered when we going to see one from the master!

That's so clean, even without photo shop, beautiful image!

Cheers,

Justin.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Cheers, Justin. Appreciate the kind words.

I didn't get a chance to go tonight. I'll see if tomorrow's still viable and try from a different location if possible.

H

[multiweb (Marc)]

Cool shot. Just got a lucky break tonight and grabbed some shots. Finally...

[ReaPerMan (Paul)]

What an excellent shot, You captured so much of the tail. Looking forward to that panorama if you get it.

All the best

Paul

[Octane (Humayun)]

Thanks, March and Paul!

I'll try and get the panorama tonight.

H