Tonight the sky was clear but I couldn't find the comet with my binoculars, so took some photos and went inside to examine them - found the comet in the photos, so went to line up again. I tried to get my Meade 10"/GM8 to see it, but no luck, so went inside to bring out the 8" dob. Of course stumbling around in the dark isn't much good, and when I went to pick up my small stool, the binoculars fell on the ground - now it is seeing double.
Anyway, I eventually used the camera and an inclinometer to line up the dob and was able to see the comet. I tried a zoom eyepiece also but couldn't resolve much of the comet, still looks like a smudge - no apparent colour, but my photo does show it as green.
My result at this stunning comet. The tail is just visible in the image to the left of the coma. I have also uploaded a labelled version for anyone that can't identify it.
30 sec at iso 3200 f/5.6 on canon 550D EF lens 15-85mm.
John, I've just tried it with the binos and it is lost in the Sydney light pollution. More aperture required.
Hi, I use 10x50 binoculars and I have been able to see the comet from Dundas once I know where it is. I take photos until I locate it and then it is easy to find in binoculars. Now of course, after a drop onto concrete of only 10 inches, my binoculars are not working - I think one prism is out of alignment so I see two images. Now to borrow another pair of binoculars...
Hey John, you may find it is just one of the objectives has jumped threads where the tube screws to the body. Check to see if one of them has a minute gap at one side where they come together. My 12 x 50s suffered from this for years till I decided to strip them and rebuild with another pair I bought cheap ( broken focus adjuster ). Spotted the tiny gap, rethreaed the front objective assembly and bingo she was perfect. The thread is very fine so a one thread jump will affect it but not be apparent to look at the bins.
And on another note. Spotted Lemmon last night with 10 x 50 binos. Very poor seeing so no apparent tail or colour seen. My 12 x 50's will see it better but culdn't be bothreed going to the ob to get them. See how the weekend goes for another photo shot and I may try to get the 10" up to take a look.
had a nice night with the 9x63 bino's viewed for around an hour.easily seen no visable tail or color..will move the 16" dob out to have a look tonight if the weather stays clear..fingers crossed.
I managed to see the tail visually from Tammin last night through my 12" LX90. It was at the 2'o clock position in my eyepiece (Going roughly towards the LMC), which meant that it was pointing away from the Sun in the sky. The tail is quite faint even with averted vision and as I have returned to the light polluted skies of Perth I probably won't be seeing it for a while. I didn't see any hint of color.
. Now of course, after a drop onto concrete of only 10 inches, my binoculars are not working - I think one prism is out of alignment so I see two images. Now to borrow another pair of binoculars...
I have re aligned my binocular prisms a few times after the kids have knocked them around. It is quite easy once you know how. Have a look at this web page http://www.oberwerk.com/support/collimate.htm
Thanks Brent & Rick, I will take a look at my binoculars to see how to adjust the prisms.
Tonight, another reasonably clear night - I was able to eventually find the comet in my 8x50 finderscope, then was able to view it on my Meade 10" SCT. I used a WO DCL-52 eyepiece which has a huge eye relief - in fact I had to view it from over an inch above the eyepiece. I then thought I would try prime focus photography, but had trouble because the camera (Sony Nex5) shows only a blank screen. I had to move to another brighter star, then taking 10second photos managed to get it close to focus to be able to see it on the screen. Once that was done, finding the comet again took some minutes, but eventually I got it.
The stars are not quite round, so looks like focus is a bit out, but also my polar alignment on the GM-8 isn't right either. A 10 second shot at iso1600. Next photo is at iso6400.
Last edited by John0z; 09-02-2013 at 12:29 AM.
Reason: Add another photo
viewed lemmon in my 16" dob for around 2 hours last night.using naglers with that 82 deg fov.the comet glowed beautifully with the centre core very tight and bright emitting out and fading into a mottly looking g/c with the faintest hint of a tail...and through the occasional excellent seeing conditions the tail really did start to show it's self and was able to move the scope to follow it.the comet looked absoultly amazing in the eyepiece and was very happy.to the south i pick up light pollution from coffs and color while not noticeable in my eyes,i did see shades of grey/green on occasion but faintly..
tryed to see it early this morning but it was hiden behind the trees as to was panstarrs..
well worth the look for those that haven't yet.......
Imaged Comet Lemmon last night with ED80 at F7.5 and QHY8L camera for a total of 10 mins of 2min shots.
Definetly see the extent of the tail especially in an inverted image.
Lovely view of the comet and tail in my 4.5" reflector from Wilson's Promontory at the weekend - tail over a degree long. A hint of a tail in the 14x70 binos too. It was my first decent view of a comet's tail since McNaught in daytime from Scotland. Couldn't see a tail on Lemmon with the 16" last week in suburban Melbourne, though the coma was fairly big, bright and diffuse, concentrating to a tiny faint core. Cool object, though!
I think it's around 5.5. Here's a single frame from Early Sunday morning just gone.
177 sec tracked on eq3 500D efs 55-250 at f5.6 kit lens at 109mm. Heaps of noise, was a hot night.
