I went up to the Skillion at Terrigal at about 3.30 this morning with my eldest boy Jack to join Iceman and RB for a look.
Unfortunately the central coast had some heavy cloud cover to the east which hung like a heavy drape over the bottom 10-15 degrees of sky immediately above the horizon. We could still see about the rear third of the tail visually. Mike and Andrew were capturing a lot more with their cameras - I am looking forward to seeing the results once they are posted.
It brings back so many memories of McNaught in 2007. So much love and joy (if you will excuse the pun).
My efforts from this morning. Unfortunately there is a streetlight outside the house and nowhere to go to avoid it,plus the security light at the front of the house that cannot be diasabled. I am not convinced that the "cloud" is that, I suspect a dirty sensor,flare and light scatter within the optics. 15 secs @ ISO3200,28mm @f/3.5. Pentax *ist DS and Tokina 28-70mm. Image not processed.
As Sydney people would be aware, the viewing of Comet Lovejoy is problematic at best from the Sydney basin.
Three members of the Western Sydney Amateur Astronomy Group (WSAAG) travelled to Blayney, NSW (near Bathurst) this morning to attempt to view and perhaps photograph the comet while it is still with us and visible.
Conditions were good from 3am to 4:15am. An image is reproduced below.
Canon EOS5D @ ISO 6400, 30 second exposure @ f=50mm with ICNR.
Regards,
Tony Barry with Dave Gault, Hristo Pavlov, and Anu Barry
Last edited by tonybarry; 24-12-2011 at 08:27 AM.
Reason: added camera details
I went up to the Skillion at Terrigal at about 3.30 this morning with my eldest boy Jack to join Iceman and RB for a look.
Unfortunately the central coast had some heavy cloud cover to the east which hung like a heavy drape over the bottom 10-15 degrees of sky immediately above the horizon. We could still see about the rear third of the tail visually. Mike and Andrew were capturing a lot more with their cameras - I am looking forward to seeing the results once they are posted.
It brings back so many memories of McNaught in 2007. So much love and joy (if you will excuse the pun).
Was great to catch up with Rod and RB this morning, such a shame about the clouds. I can't believe such a big thick bank of cloud sat right over the top of Lovejoy for 2 hours. It just teased us.
I've got a timelapse that will look good as a star field up around crux, but not much in the way of a comet
Don't think I'll be able to try again for a few days, being xmas day tomorrow, and leaving for holidays the day after.
Got up about 4am, should have been earlier but managed a couple of shots down my driveway which gives a horizon view. And clouds coming in but you can just see the tail through cloud gaps.
Konica Minolta Dynax 7D ISO 800, 20 secs f5.6 Lens at 24mm single frame, untracked. ( my clever wee 18-70 KM lens.)
I have a few other frames including a later, lighter one which just shows it I think but you have to know what you're looking for.
I'll try and get up earlier, 3am or so over the weekend. Darker skies and better visibility of the tail hopefully but wife is impressed with the pic so far.
Least I can say I've seen it and gotten an image.
Last edited by ZeroID; 24-12-2011 at 09:29 AM.
Reason: Added camera info
I too had luck this morning when I headed west with Carl (renormalised). Tville had light cloud , everywhere, but when we stopped the car 20 min west at 4 am the skies were brilliant!! Alas, the predawn light started way too early. About to check images now.
Saw it this morning through broken cloud over the ocean on Sydney's northern beaches. Quite bright although the head was still below the horizon. The clouds shut the show down but worth getting up for. From what I recall the tail is brighter and longer than Halley was in its early morning shows. The tail was at least 30 deg long with some more of it yet to rise. I think I'll have another try tonight although it may be easy to mistake the comet tail for Santa's contrail.
Checked on Heavens Above and sure enough, it's an ISS pass. A single 1-min exposure, Canon 400D. 4:30am, 24 Dec 2011 local time (17:30, 23 Dec 2011 UT).
Saw it this morning through broken cloud over the ocean on Sydney's northern beaches. Quite bright although the head was still below the horizon. The clouds shut the show down but worth getting up for. From what I recall the tail is brighter and longer than Halley was in its early morning shows. The tail was at least 30 deg long with some more of it yet to rise. I think I'll have another try tonight although it may be easy to mistake the comet tail for Santa's contrail.
You have brought up an interesting dilemma for those shooting in the wee hours of tomorrow Monte, and something we all need to be aware of. I think Heavens-com give the coordinates for the sleigh, but would be great to get them in an image too.
And ISS and comet in one frame ... !! Comet tail is just visible in lower left below the cloud. I spotted ISS before in the Pic but didn't realsie the tail wa faintly visible as well.
KM Dynax 7d, ISO1600 10 sec 24 mm.
I took a few wideviews above as well but I'll post those elsewhere.
Hi,
I couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch this one. Despite discouraging early cloud, perseverance won out and I managed to catch the comet from the Mt Lofty Ranges.