Pleiades and Q2 Machholz

[ving (David)]

i'd like to get out too... but i still have visitors

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Well I got about 2 minutes of gap between the clouds. This camera really needs 20m but I didn't get a choice.

It's a bit grainy but the tail looks really bent! Almost looks like a film defect. Anyone else get pics of the tail tonight?

135mm f2.5 @ f3.5 and a couple of minutes of frames through the mintron video camera.

[Vermin (Tom)]

The clouds have finally parted here (someone must have a received a new scope for Christmas nearby).

Unfortunately I missed Machholz and the Pleiades (thanks for the top pics folks!).

Also it has moved too far round to the North behind some trees when viewed from my yard.

Still, I got a quick look at a very turbulent Saturn and a couple of nebulae tonight (Eta Carinae and the Tarantula with help from a narrowband filter).

Then finished up with a bit of wide field scanning with my 35 Pan and the filter.

All in all a good hour spent under the stars at last!

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

The Pleiades are too far out of the frame now but it was nice and clear early last night for pics. Took a few shots but so far have only processed the greyscale pic. Colour to come soon.

There's what looks like a small nebula just to the right of the comet. Don't know what this is.

500 x 1.25 second frames with the box brownie mintron video camera and 135mm lens.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

A little tricolour pic with a 50mm camera lens. 900 x 1.25 second frames or about 300 for each channel.

[iceman (Mike)]

Both awesome shots Kevin! Well done.. it's amazing what you're pulling out with that video camera.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Thanks. Another shot with the 135mm lens. Not as many frames this time. Only 130 per channel.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Great imaging Kevin.

I know I seem to be putting it to all the gurus here, so how about you? A bit of a review of you particular imaging and processing details. We seem to have some great artist here and I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to know everyones secrets Terms like "tricolour registration" for example. I use PS abit but my mind goes "Wot Tha?"

In fact (and no one ever called me afraid for putting myself forward when I'm after something )I'd love it if someone (anyone, everyone) would put together some examples of their original and final exceptional shots along with step by step Imaging and processing. (were they groans I heard then ) Come on now don't be shy. You know who you are

"I live in expectation"

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Lol, okay I'll get something together when I get time. I go through a lot of processing (have to for a crappy camera) so it will take a while to put together. Those two tricolour shots alone took me 3 hours and my head was spinning when I finished. The things we go through for a hobby eh?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

That's what I mean Kevin. For you 3 hours and you know what your doing for me 3 days

[Mick (Michael)]

Very nice images Kevin, You have been busy.

[Mick (Michael)]

There's what looks like a small nebula just to the right of the comet.

Kevin, I think it might be NGC1333.

[Orion]

All very nice photos
I was just wondering why in some photos the comet has a green hue to it

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Hi Ed. Some of the photos are tricolour bringing out the green of the comet's coma.

Thanks Mick. Was wondering what it was.

Took another last night. I have 2 versions, one about 35 minutes worth and the other is only about 10. The long one of course is tracked with the stars trailing.

Which one do you guys like best?

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

This is the shorter one.

[Mick (Michael)]

I like the first one Kevin more detail in the ion tail.