McNaught C/2008 A1 19th Sept

[Garyh]

Hi everyone,
Managed some quick shots of this one before it got too low for me...
Done a total of 12 images of which 10 should stack nicely..
Here is a single frame which is 4 min at iso 800 with 6" newt and 20D. Stretched quiet a bit to show as much detail as possible. Could see it in the finderscope but it was very hard to tell what it was...
cheers Gary

[Liz]

Well done Gary, nice little tail

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

You've done well to capture it Gary. Let's see... a tail at 5 o'clock am I right?

[Matty P (Matt)]

I agree, you've done a fantastic job with this Gary.

I can see a very faint tail at the 5 o'clock position as well.

Well done

[iceman (Mike)]

Nice shot Gary, I was going to try and capture it tonight but I don't think i'll get time now.

[theodog (Jeff)]

Good one Gary.
Some detail of the tail(s) and eccentric coma.
Well done.

[Garyh]

Thanks everyone! , I shall try to bring out more when I get around to stacking these. Looks like the tail is rather broad from the 2 o`clock to 5 o`cloud with the brighter part around the 5 o`clock position..
Like to get more but I only get a look at it for 45min max before its too low here...
Shall post the stacked version when done.
CS Gary

[Garyh]

Here is the 10 stack version, now you can see that ion tail and that broad dust tail much better....
Have to have another go at this one soon..
cheers Gary

[Ric]

Hi Gary, that's a beauty. It's got some great detail and the tail is coming up very nicely indeed.

A great capture.

[Garyh]

Thanks Ric....

Cleaned it up a little more......
Done more and deeper last night but the seeing was horrid so soft bloated stars...maybe tonight?
cheers Gary

[Rob_K]

Very nice shot Gary, tails show up really well!

Cheers -

[AlexN]

thats very nice Gary..

Can I ask, How do you get the mount to track a comet? this is one thing thats baffled me so far, I've tried to nut it out without just coming out and asking what is probably a dumb question, but there it is..

Cheers.
Alex..

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Alex.
You don't track on the comet, although some people might try and guide on the comet.
You still track as normal, and it's the stacking in software where you stack on the comet, giving the smeared stars.

Beautiful images, Gary!

[Garyh]

Thanks Rob, Alex, and Mike! (hope you got a chance to have a go Mike!)
Yes like Mike says, unless you have a very bright comet to guide on you just guide like normal on a star and try to keep you exposures short enough to stop the comet trailing to much if its a fast one...
Images are just aligned and stacked on the comet Nucleus..
cheers Gary

[RB (Andrew)]

Beautiful shots Gary, nice wispy tail and core colours.

[peeb61 (Paul)]

Great capture Gary! Looks nice and bright...I will have to have another go at this one.

Paul