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Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: Rick on Jan 05, 2005, 01:25:00

Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rick on Jan 05, 2005, 01:25:00
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/myspace/nightsky/index.shtml shows comet Macholz passing fairly close to the Pleiades around the 7th and 8th. Might be a nice shot if you've got something fairly wide-angle...

[ This Message was edited by: Rick on 2005-01-10 12:56 ]
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jan 05, 2005, 01:47:00
I took a photo of it a few days ago, its not got mutch of a tail yet :sad:  Suppose I should put the image up here at some time?
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: JohnP on Jan 05, 2005, 02:31:00
I'll give it a try with my 300D if we get any clear skies - Will certainly be wide angle.  

John
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rick on Jan 05, 2005, 06:13:00
Friend at work saw it from a dark site in Europe last week, and reported a naked-eye tail. The pictures shown on Sky at Night also showed a tail. Give it another go if the sky clears...
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jan 05, 2005, 15:35:00
It is definately bright, could see it with the bino's from my back garden.  No tail though, would have to be very bright for me to see a tail with the flood lights on.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rick on Jan 05, 2005, 19:15:00
Saw it last night (well, early this morning) from my garden. Mostly coma, but it's not quite round, which may be a hint of a tail. Sky transparency wasn't wonderful. From somewhere darker I expect a tail would be visible. Maybe careful CCD imaging would reveal it?
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jan 06, 2005, 01:27:00
I'll be going up to a place called One Tree Hill in Kent soon its 200m up and has no big lights within miles see: -

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=556500&y=153500&z=3&sv=556500,153500&st=4&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rick on Jan 07, 2005, 01:10:00
Yes, nice and dark there. Should see it well if you can find a place that's not enclosed by trees.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jan 07, 2005, 01:12:00
At the top of the hill it is split into two sides completely without trees and a good field of view, if a little off flat.  The parking is about 3-4 minutes walk from the car park, the car park holds about 10 cars.  I spotted it whilst walking the other week.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Sue on Jan 07, 2005, 04:28:00
Tonbridge lies in the valley at the bottom of the hill directly to the south. Never been up there at night so don't know how shielded the lights will be, but Hildenbough/Tonbridge pretty large bright suburban area.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jan 08, 2005, 00:51:00
I can confirm it has more than one tree :smile:  I'll go havea look soon in the dark and let you know.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Sue on Jan 09, 2005, 05:50:00
Been up there tonight.(On way from dropping eldest son at party - does have some advantages!) Terriffic view of the comet -8:30pm - high enough to see above trees from car park.Fuzz green blob with no tails through binos.Lovely adjacent to Pleidies.
Didn't go out onto hill as I was alone but some cloud around low down visible  between trees which was reflecting red glow from all directions.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jan 09, 2005, 20:14:00
gosh your keen, I don;t think its wise to go up there on your own being a lady!  Anyway I'll get up there soon.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Whitters on Jan 10, 2005, 07:00:00
Don't quite know how I managed to get this, it was pretty much 8/8 cloud, so apologies for the lack of detail.
Tec. 105mm Tamron lens with MX916 CCD. 30 second exposure.
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul_whitmarsh/Astronomy/Images/MX916/January_08_2005/Machholz_High_Pass.jpg)
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Whitters on Jan 10, 2005, 07:04:00
Should say the date and time of the exposure was 2005-01-09 00:12:01.5
The image has had a high pass filter applied.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Sue on Jan 10, 2005, 19:44:00
Well done!
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Rick on Jan 10, 2005, 21:03:00
QuoteShould say the date and time of the exposure was 2005-01-09 00:12:01.5
Thanks. It's in the gallery archive.
Title: Opportunity to catch comet Macholz and the Pleiades in one f
Post by: Whitters on Jan 10, 2005, 23:46:00
Cheer Rick,
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