Tonight I could see 10 degrees of tail before it it got chopped off by cloud. The attached image is a stack of 5 images, each 8 seconds long using a Canon 350D + Canon 70-200 lens set at 70mm f2.8. I used IRIS's 3 star registration to align the images before combining them. I also a cropped a little so this image measures 12 x 13.5 degrees. By keeping exposures at 8 seconds I could use a tripod to mount the camera.
Terry
Last edited by CometGuy; 27-01-2007 at 10:25 PM.
Reason: Nice if I attached the image!
Like Terry we were lucky enought to have a brief appearance tonight, albeit chopped off by cloud. I wasn't expecting it so I didn't travel to a darker site. This shot is a 20 sec f/2.0 50mm shot from my light polluted front yard. I was quite surprised that the comet was still naked eye even with all the surrounding lights.
I probably over cooked this one a wee bit, but I wanted to get the finer detail happening. I had to compress it quite hard to get it on the forum too which doesn't help the image any.
6 X 3 min exp. 400D piggybacked. (from the 22nd Jan)
This shot is a 20 sec f/2.0 50mm shot from my light polluted front yard. I was quite surprised that the comet was still naked eye even with all the surrounding lights.
Great shot Paul, stands out nicely.
This comet still continues to surprise us by it's performance !
Quote:
Originally Posted by asimov
I probably over cooked this one a wee bit, but I wanted to get the finer detail happening. I had to compress it quite hard to get it on the forum too which doesn't help the image any.
I like it John, it really emphasizes the comet's structure.
Hi again everyone,
Had a quick peak thursday night before cloud out, friday looked like it would be the same as a bunch of low cloud started moving across on sunset. Nearly stayed home but what the heck!! you only see comets like this a few times in ones life time.....and it actually cleared up by 9pm..
Took a buch of images at different focal lengths and set up my gm-8 so could get some trackin happening...
Heres my favorite for the night..
details...35mm @f/3.5 80 sec tracked Df removed some noise removal and some slight processing in Ps..
Still a impressive sight even with a half moon showing.... tail at least 10 degrees long visually and took a bit longer to spot the sucker after sunset.
Can`t wait till that moons not rising till after 10pm!!!
Cheers Gary
Last night (Sat, 27.01) was the first time in over a fortnight that the sky was clear down here on the South Coast, the only oportunity that I have had to photograph the comet although I have seen it with the naked eye in full splendour at a different location.
Wide angle view gives a good idea how it looked with the naked eye here last night, focus is a bit soft though, head through the Tak at prime focus, I am definately out of practice with all the cloud around.
One from last evening in Brisbane - not a great south western horizon from home, but it is getting high enough to spot from the front lawn. Still quite a nice naked eye sight given the moon and suburban skyglow.
Hi All,
I think I may have the images now at a useable size. All taken at Holbrook NSW on 22/1 while returning from holiday.
Camera - Practica TL1000 with 50mm lens for 2a and 3a and 30-200mm zoom at 200mm for 1a. Exposures were between 10 and 30 seconds at f2.8. Fuji film asa400.
Hi All, - just found this site and registered!
After a break of almost 10 years since my last serious attempt at astrophotography, the appearance of McNaught in our skies inspired me to have another go. On Jan 22nd I took some shots using a Nikon D70 and Nikon 18-70mm zoom. My best shot (shown)was 30 seconds at f3.5 / ISO 1600, but the lens is a little slow and the Nikon sensor is not the lowest noise at this gain, even with noise reduction turned on, so I just couldn't get the depth I was looking for in the dust tail without excessive star trailing. Next night I dragged out the old 6 inch scope and guiding gear and managed much better with a 144 second exposure with the camera piggybacked and a lower ISO setting. I'm prettypleased with this one. I'm looking to borrow a faster prime lens at a slightly longer focal length so that I'll be set for more when the moon glare dies down again in the early evening. Looks like I'm hooked again! :-)
Awesome lot of images that have been posted.
I have added a few to my website.Photos have been taken from Lang Lang Jetty,Pakenham,Catani and Beechworth.Various times of the evening,ISOs ,lenses and shutter speeds.Last time I was out was Friday night out the back of Beechworth. http://www.lightninghunter.net/latest_pictures.htm
Hi all
I got the comet tonight from Wallsend Park with Berts 300mm f2.8 flourite lens, 31x2 sec ISO 400 aligned on comet head.
The yellow colour has gone, now coma is green, and it has a sort of antetail (sunward tail) probably a sheet of dust particles.
Gee what a changable comet.
Scott
Got my first sighting tonight and a photo to remember the experience . It is very hazy here but at least the clouds left (I am on the river flat near the Clarence River at the moment) I thought it would disappear so I banged some off, poor focus, dust still on the sensor on a camera tripod not fit for anything..but I am happy I saw it at least but only just. Shot with a 300d ,standard lens, 1600 iso and 800 various images of various exposures managed to bring out something at least for the memory but not a good shot on any level.. but there is hope for tomorrow night the way its clearing .
alex
I only managed to get one decent shot of it tonight before it disappeared behind the trees.
And it was my test shot, I didn't even have time to frame it right
Anyway here it is:
Single frame using the TOA 130 @ F/5.6 and the 20Da, 10 sec exp @ ISO 1600, in cam N/R.
catching up a bit now, a couple of pics from my very LP backyard last wednesday evening 24th, around 9:15-30 pm - had a good and lucky run of views here from saturday to saturday! (sort of, well, observed p1 on all those nights at least, except friday gone 26th, some were twilight affected 9 - 9:30 pm views tho, like last sunday 21st, and a storm view last 20th - when it appeared as bright as lightning between the clouds!) 10 different days/ocassions in total now!
i dont think i captured the naked eye view to well with the LP in it, it had a much longer and different tail than that naked eye! it was prettier than that
a 4 sec shot iso 400, and a 2 sec iso 100 , 50mm lens 350d from jpegs
![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif){kind=avatar}
...and it actually cleared up by 9pm..
and 
Dave (another one 
Old forum joke.)
. It is very hazy here but at least the clouds left (I am on the river flat near the Clarence River at the moment) I thought it would disappear so I banged some off, poor focus, dust still on the sensor on a camera tripod not fit for anything..but I am happy I saw it at least but only just. Shot with a 300d ,standard lens, 1600 iso and 800 various images of various exposures managed to bring out something at least for the memory but not a good shot on any level.. but there is hope for tomorrow night the way its clearing
