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Comet Wirtanen on November 30 around 22:00 CET == 21:00 UT

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Tonight I took 40 images of 20 s each of Comet Wirtanen from my backyard using my 71 mm William Optics ZS refractor and Canon EOS 700D DSLR camera. It turned out that the big tree, that is due south in my backyard, was entering the images so I only used the first 20. Still not a bad result considering that this is my first comet picture ever.


Wouter

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5 years 3 months ago #32171
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I'm currently planning to try and catch it when it sails by the Pleiades around the 16h of December. I did that with comet Lovejoy a couple of years ago, and got a great shot. You might want to plan for it. Looks like there is no tail yet though?
5 years 3 months ago #32173

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Yes I very much hope that we will get clear skies around December 16, when the comet is closest to Earth and indeed near the Pleiades too. And I’ll need to practise a lot more until then so I might actually get a good shot of the comet. I mean, tonight’s attempt didn’t end up badly but there is a lot of improvement possible.

In the pic coma is slightly elongated and lobsided with one part pointing to around 10:30 (i.e. upper left). That may be a hint of the tail. I found several pics of the comet taken during the past few days that show a much longer but very faint tail. 20 x 20 s clearly isn’t enough exposure time to show it. Maybe later this week!
5 years 3 months ago #32174

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5 years 3 months ago #32178

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That’s exactly one of the pictures I found as well. Well, it was taken from Namibia where the comet culminates near the zenith. Anyway, challenge accepted!
5 years 3 months ago #32181

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Hi guys,
Tried to shoot Wirtanen yesterday and tonight.
yesterday - 60x30sec
today - 30x60sec
No sign of the comet.
I think I was in the right part of the sky (used kstars to locate the comet).
Today it was supposed to be right between Ain and Aldebaran.

Is this just not possible for me? - very light polluted area, occasional clouds, Nikon 5300 with 180mm lens.
Thanks!
Max
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
5 years 3 months ago #32543

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Answering my own question... Kstars was wrong by two days (showed location it would be in two days from now).
I didn't realize I needed to update orbital elements. Updated - now it's in the right place.
I have a couple of hours before it starts to cloud up...

i can see it! : ) but it's getting cloudy : (
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
Last edit: 5 years 3 months ago by maxthebuilder.
5 years 3 months ago #32546

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Had same problem. Searched with Stellarium. How do you update orbital element? I have another try today. How did you guide? On komet or on stars?


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5 years 3 months ago #32547

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Yeah.. Stellarium helped me too. In Kstars go to Data/Updates/Update comets orbital elements.
I don't guide (yet) - no trails at 60 sec exposure. The comet moves differently from the stars but still not that fast to blur.

It's become cloudy here but I'll continue to shoot.. 4 frames left. I am mainly testing my setup.
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
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Last edit: 5 years 3 months ago by maxthebuilder.
5 years 3 months ago #32549

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Please note that the comet is moving very fast now so exposure times of 60 sec and even 30 sec may be too long depending on the telescope and camera you are using.
5 years 3 months ago #32550

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thanks! it's too cloudy now anyway. should clear up by Tuesday.
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
5 years 3 months ago #32551

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As I was setting up my equipment to take images of the comet last night, it was clear, and as soon as I was ready, the clouds came in like a wave over the sky. The next several days are predicted to be totally cloud covered. Possibly Monday will be clear, but it will already be past the Pleiades.. .
5 years 3 months ago #32570

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