Kevin,
I really enjoyed your photos, brought back some memories. Some of those comets I have never seen a photo of.
Kearn,
You brought up an interesting point about 2004 F4 being known by only a select few at the start. The only reason I knew about it was from pure chance. I got a call from Colin Drescher who was at the NACAA in Hobart at the time and the comet people were talking about a possible comet Bill Bradfield that had not been confirm. The conversation went something like this (I can't remember the actual words):
Colin : Hi, Terry. You've no doubt heard the news that Bill Bradfield may have discovered a comet in the evening sky?
Me : No!
Colin : Well it hasn't been confirmed, but if you want to have a go then these were the positions that Bill and Rob McNaught have given. But its moving into the twilight so good luck
That night I climbed up onto the top of my Pegola with a tripod and newly acquired 300D + telephoto lens. Made some stacked images then to my suprise got an image of the comet! I could not see anything in 15 x 80 binoculars. Luckily we had 3 consecutive clear nights - which is very rare in februrary here - and I secured enough images so that the comet's orbit could be computed and the comet was announced as C/2004 F4. The image from the second night is here:
http://www.pbase.com/terrylovejoy/image/34367904
Terry
