CLICK IMAGE FOR A FOUR FRAME MOVIE SEQUENCE

IMAGE DETAILS

THIS COMET WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN 1965 AT THE PURPLE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY IN NANKING, CHINA. IT IS SEEN HERE MOVING NORTH EAST (SAME ORIENTATION IN THIS SEQUENCE) OVER A PERIOD OF ONE HOUR. THIS IS IT'S 6TH RETURN SINCE IT'S DISCOVERY IN JANUARY 1965 AND HAS A PERIOD OF JUST OVER SIX AND A HALF YEARS.

IN THIS IMAGE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE COMET WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 12.59 AND IT IS SEEN HERE PASSING TWO FAINT GALAXIES AND ONE EXTREMELY FAINT MAGNITUDE 18 GALAXY IN THE CONSTELLATION OF COMA BERENICES.

THE ANIMATION FRAMES HERE ARE SUFFERING FROM A REFLECTION FROM MY OBSERVATORY ROOF I THINK, THIS IS THE LIGHTER BAND FROM THE TOP RIGHT TO THE MIDDLE BOTTOM OF THE INDIVIDUAL FRAMES. THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF DUST MOTES ON VARIOUS PARTS OF THE IMAGING TRAIN EVIDENT AS I DIDN'T TAKE ANY FLAT FRAMES FOR THESE EXPOSURES.

CAPTURE AND PROCESSING INFORMATION

CAMERA :  SBIG ST2000XM WITH CFW8

TELESCOPE :  8" SCT @ F/10

FOCAL LENGTH :  2000MM

MOUNT :  LOSMANDY G-11

GUIDING :  SELF-GUIDED WITH ST2000XM

COOLING :  -20 DEGREES

FRAMES : 4 X 15 MINUTES

BINNING : 2X2

IMAGE SCALE : 1.52 ARCSEC/PIXEL

ACQUISITION : CCDSOFT

 PROCESSED :  IMAGESPLUS, IMAGE READY