is it a stack of more than one image? maybe a misalignment? also the larger fragment is enlongated. this sugests that the camera moved during the shot... i know this cause i have half a roll of film of this problem
On Tuesday night, 23.01, the head was intact when I observed it on the Braidwood-Goulburn Road near the Magellan Observatory between 2050 and 2130 on my way home from Sydney in pristine skies. Using both naked eye and 10x50 bino's.
Absolutely incrediable, tail almost to the zenith.
Phil from the exif data on the image it's apparently taken at 175mm F.L. which fits in with the image scale of the photo I think.
What I would say has happened is that the camera was bumped or mirror slap which caused the bright head to appear in two positions. The fact that the smaller "head" did not elongate would support this. The other "pinpoint stars" could be hot pixels as they did not elongate and as David stated "there are 2 stars near the end of the tail to the left that are elongated"
I've converted your image to b/w to try and isolate the head detail, the "pin point stars" and the elongation. See what you think.
Do you have any other photos of the comet taken around the same time?
It's camera shake. According to John Bortle on the comets-ml list, any break up will be seen first in large instruments. Camera shots won't show the effect (initially). Anything that looks like it is a knocked tripod
I have taken over 200 photos of this comet and this is the only one. The photo is not stacked. The camera was on a a stand and i used a cable release. My been the write time in the write place or mybe not i dont no. I have inverted the image see what you think.
Phil
i stand by my explanation. the stars that i mentioned near the end of the tail have the same shape as teh head of the comet. also, on close inspection of the "broken off" bit it doesnt have a tail of its own. have a look at the tail closely and you will notice this.
My been the write time in the write place or mybe not i dont no.
Sorry Phil I don't understand what you mean?
The piece wouldn't just flake off and disappear in a matter of a few minutes, it would be visible in photos that others took as well.
Given you have taken over 200 shots and only one shows this 'split' and that nobody else can produce a similar image would strongly suggest it is an artifact in the image. The large distance between the 'two pieces' if this was an actual break away would have occurred over several minutes at least and should be captured by others, I don't think it would go un-noticed. Given the large distance between us and the comet itself we are practically viewing it at the same angle everywhere on the planet. I also agree that such a large piece would not disintegrate so quickly that nobody would have seen it, and in between you taking more photos. The fact it is not elongated like the 'main' comet head also suggests it is not part of the comet.
Nice 'spoof' shot though, worthy of some award for "McGaffs while viewing the best comet of our very short century so far" ...
