Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: MarkS on Jul 12, 2020, 09:55:41

Title: Comet Neowise with ion tail 11 July
Post by: MarkS on Jul 12, 2020, 09:55:41
Here is Comet Neowise with its ion tail taken at Reculver on Saturday morning:

(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2020/NeowiseWithIonTail_2011_07_11.jpg)

Processing this has been a nightmare - especially the background gradients near the head.

Details:  60 x 10sec ISO 2000 exposures using RedCat51 on Nikon Z6 on an iOptron Skytracker.  I think the combination was a bit too heavy for the mount - especially in the gusting wind.

Both tails go off the edge of the picture, so that's more than 5 degrees.

Mark
Title: Re: Comet Neowise with ion tail 11 July
Post by: The Thing on Jul 12, 2020, 10:38:24
That's a great image Mark. Everyones comet pics are amazing. I hope to have a go tonight or tomorrow morning.
Title: Re: Comet Neowise with ion tail 11 July
Post by: NoelC on Jul 12, 2020, 11:00:41
A great image Mark
Huge amount of stars and very good definition in the comet.

Noel
Title: Re: Comet Neowise with ion tail 11 July
Post by: Fay on Jul 12, 2020, 13:18:10
great picture Mark
Title: Re: Comet Neowise with ion tail 11 July
Post by: Mac on Jul 12, 2020, 16:06:16
very nice

Mac.
Title: Re: Comet Neowise with ion tail 11 July
Post by: MarkS on Jul 12, 2020, 17:22:37
The upper tail looks a bit weird and I wondered if it was a processing artefact.

Looking at other images confirms the effect is real and there's incredibly a mixture of tails in there.  Here's one of the best images two days earlier that demonstrates this:
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/716674-comet-neowise-0709-tails/

Mark
Title: Re: Comet Neowise with ion tail 11 July
Post by: Carole on Jul 13, 2020, 01:23:06
Wow, I must go back to my data and see whether I can find a 2nd tail, as I was pretty tired when I processed it.

Carole
Title: Re: Comet Neowise with ion tail 11 July
Post by: RobertM on Jul 13, 2020, 17:46:01
That's come out really well.  I've been having gradient issues around the comet head as well - a darker streak at right angles to the tail.  It's being a bit of a pig but I'll get there in the end...hopefully.  The comet structure is a bit remiscent of Hale-Bopp with the ion tail and tail shape.

Robert