CCD vs Film? Lots of time vs no patience? Alright, this is your place to discuss all the astrophotography what's and what's not. You can discuss about techniques, accessories, cameras, whatever....just make sure you also post some nice photos here too!
Really couldn't resist and purchased a ticket to Perth last minute, deciding to chase this comet during the Christmas long weekend.
Despite the extreme inconvenience during Christmas in the countryside that no hotels/motels/restauruants are open at all, I managed to survive for two days alone, sleeping in a rental car and eating only bread...
With all the money and effort thrown into this chase, the comet didn't let me down. It hanged in the estern dawn sky with a brilliant tail up to 30deg long! Together with the awesome southern sky, the view was simply beyond any words to describe!
This one is my favorite photo of the trip:
Last edited by jiahao1986 on Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Photo below shows how the comet changed over only 24 hours, from Dec. 25 to 26. Tail length grew by 3 degrees with quite a bit of change in shape.
Photo below shows the details around the comet's head on Dec. 26. Note the thin stream of brightening inside the coma stretching upwards for a few degrees. Which might have suggested the neuclus has broken apart.
Last edited by jiahao1986 on Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:40 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Now that the comet has faded dramatically since Christmas, though the tail is still growing as it gets closer to earth. If anybody happens to be in Australia next week, don't forget to wake up early and give it a try!
"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
![[smilie=bleeding.gif]](./images/smilies/bleeding.gif "bleeding")
Thanks for sharing.
![[smilie=good-job.gif]](./images/smilies/good-job.gif "good-job")
