Found this very condensed little comet for the first time this morning using a 6 inch f5 Newtonian.
Conditions were poor and only captured 69 frames in partial twilight while dodging clouds. What a nice surprise in Photoshop when adjusting the levels slider to see a tail come out of the darkness. It reminds me of processing prints in the darkroom and watching the picture appear!
Details are Mintron video camera, 69 frames set at 64x frame integration, stacked in Registax. Gain was stepped back 2 clicks from full. Telescope 6 inch F5 Newtonian. Taken around 5am EST through the dining room window.
Hopefully conditions will improve as this comet shows great promise.
I was out out this morning at 5, tried looking with binoculars 7x50's, with no luck. Where is the comet in relation to Jupiter? I captured a fuzzy about 20 degrees south and 10 degrees above Jupiter with 200mm f6 8 seconds.
I was out out this morning at 5, tried looking with binoculars 7x50's, with no luck. Where is the comet in relation to Jupiter? I captured a fuzzy about 20 degrees south and 10 degrees above Jupiter with 200mm f6 8 seconds.
I opened the window for the photo. I never shoot through glass. Had to have mosquito coils going though.
Visually with a 30mm eyepiece at 25X it looked small and very condensed. Quite easy to see. Be interesting to see how it handles moonlight.
For me it was just above the trees at 4:30 EST (5:30 DST). It was visible well into twilight as I followed it for nearly an hour before the sky was too bright.
Lester, the comet is quite small. I think it would be passed off as a star in 7x50 binos.
It's still visible even with a 100% moon, but nowhere near it's full glory of course.
Weather conditions have been horrible. I nearly didn't bother this morning. It only stayed clearish for about 100 seconds. Took a shot anyway just to show it in full moonlight and through clouds. This comet would be quite a looker at high elevation in dark skies. Maybe in another week or two when the moon is weaker.
Only 43 frames at 96x frame integration mid gain. 6 inch f5 Newtonian.
What a difference a few more frames without cloud makes. This is from this morning the 15th at about 4:55am EST. 230 2 second frames through the 6 inch f5. It's on the move! I had registax track on the comet leaving star trails from the motion of the comet.
This comet looks like it will have a nice tail when the moon doesn't interfere as much. I hope it will be clear then.
great shot kevin, i did try for this a few morning ago, but had trouble finding. roughly what magnification do you need?, do it stand out in say the finder scope?
David, I use the 6 inch scope at 25X to find it. You could get away with less though. I haven't tried to sight it in the finder. Don't think it would show well in the finder with a 90% moon.
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