Comet Boattini last night

Terry B · #1 25-05-2008, 09:44 PM

Dear All
I took some images of comet Boattini last night just as the moon was rising. It certainly now has an ion tale but it is pretty dim on the images.
The image is a stack of 16 x 150 sec exposures with my 40D through my vixen VC200L. Image size is about 1deg wide. Guided with guidemaster.
I tried a 300sec exposure but the comet moves too fast for this and it trailed too much.
The 2 images are just different stretches of the same pic. To show the tail going to the left I have to brighten the sky and make it far from black.
Now to see the tail visually.

iceman (Mike) · #2 26-05-2008, 01:39 AM

Wow they're awesome images, Terry. Definitely inspired me to give it a go next weekend.

Nice work!

Garyh · #3 26-05-2008, 08:10 AM

Nice shots Terry!
Glad to see a tail of sorts developing...
might give it a go tonight weather permitting.
cheers

Liz · #4 26-05-2008, 01:51 PM

Great shots Terry. I was also out last night and took this one, just with my 450D on tripod/f 4.5/35 sec/ISO 1600.

dannat (Daniel) · #5 26-05-2008, 03:35 PM

Terry, nice and bright - well done

Matty P (Matt) · #6 26-05-2008, 05:29 PM

Amazing image Terry especially being able to capture a tail.

Well Done!

What ISO setting did you use?

Terry B · #7 26-05-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty P

Amazing image Terry especially being able to capture a tail.

Well Done!

What ISO setting did you use?

I always use ISO 800 and usually 5 min exposures but there was too much movement of the comet so I used 2 1/2 min exposures. The stacking and processing was done in Iris with Noiseworks to reduce the noise as a final step.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #8 26-05-2008, 10:22 PM

Awesome shots Terry !
What is the Comet's visual magnitude ATM ?

Terry B · #9 26-05-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaa_ian

Awesome shots Terry !
What is the Comet's visual magnitude ATM ?

about 5.5

gaa_ian (Ian) · #10 27-05-2008, 07:04 AM

Thanks Terry, that is certainly one to look out for, I will go out with the binoculars tonight.

edwardsdj (Doug) · #11 28-05-2008, 11:57 PM

Amazing images Terry. I really have to get out to a dark site to have a look at this comet.

Prickly · #12 29-05-2008, 10:23 PM

Thats really great Terry

You really have got that tracking bang on there.

I'll have to go hunting for this and might have a go too. Looks like it might come up ok with an unmodded camera.

Cheers
David

gaa_ian (Ian) · #13 02-06-2008, 06:06 AM

Had a look for this comet last night without a comet finder chart.
Just going from memory of its position.
Albeit with a starchart to find the bright guide star in Puppis.
With a wide field 32mm Panoptic Eyepiece it came up a treat !
Could see the making's of a tail, its brightness was certainly not symmetrical.