Catching a comet.

Comet Lovejoy

Well after a year of not imaging, I’m finally back in the saddle.  It is amazing how much I have forgotten!  This was shot using my new mount.  Focus was giving me fits, as I’m trying to learn the new software controls.  But you know what…I caught a comet!  There are several amazing shots of this one on the web (APOD), and this thing is huge.  If I was more proficient, I would have loved getting someplace dark and spending some more time on this target. As it was from my very light polluted back yard and only 10 x 20 second sub exposures each filter (LRGB), SNR was poor.  But the ion tail and coma is still spectacular!  This object is also easily visible with a pair of binoculars right now, just a field of view east of the Pleiades.  Enjoy!

Comet Lovejoy

Comet Lovejoy on January 19th, 2015.