Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on 18th and 20th Jan 2023

[MarkS]

Here are a couple of single exposures (60sec at ISO 1600) taken with an unmodified Canon EOS R on a Tak Epsilon 180ED.

18th Jan at 3:40 GMT:

http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2023/C2022_E3_ZTF_20230118.jpg

20th Jan at 4:40GMT:

http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2023/C2022_E3_ZTF_20230120.jpg

I took over 60 exposures on each occasion so I should be able to produce better versions once I get round to doing the whole comet stacking mularky.  The main problem for stacking is the ion tail which changes quite rapidly.

It's well worth looking at Michael Jaeger's recent animation:
https://spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=191664

Mark

[Carole]

Great work Mark.  Is the anomation showing where the Solar wind split the tail which I heard about on the OAS Whatsapp Group?

If you're going to re-stack, should I wait for new versions before presenting at the meeting?

Carole

[MarkS]

I don't know anything about a tail split but Michael Jaeger's animation clearly shows a big puff of gas streaming down the ion tail.  That's quite normal because gas rarely jets out at a constant rate. The animation also perfectly illustrates the problem with comet stacking.  If those frames are integrated together we end up with a long featureless time-blurred tail.

So I'm not yet sure what I'll do.

[Dave A]

Great animation Mark

[MarkS]

Great animation Mark

Yes, I wish it were my animation!  Here's an even better one taken with big aperture, fast optics and New Mexico pristine skies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DilnEio971o&feature=youtu.be

Not that I'm jealous, of course 

[garrick]

Really nice image. Stars and comet look great.

GW

[Roberto]

Fantastic Mark!  Lovely colours.

Roberto

[Carole]

Bit confused Mark from the presentation of members images perspective.

You say you took a single 60sec shot on both, then later you say I took over 60 exposures on each occasion.
Please can you clarify.

Also aside from this, it is reported that this coment has a rare antetail, it is starting to become evident in your second image Mark. 

Carole

[MarkS]

You say you took a single 60sec shot on both, then later you say I took over 60 exposures on each occasion.
Please can you clarify.

Also aside from this, it is reported that this coment has a rare antetail, it is starting to become evident in your second image Mark. 

I took more than 60 exposures on both nights but I haven't (yet) stacked them.  So I posted a single 60sec exposures from each night.  Yes, the anti-tail is visible (just).  It is much more visible in Roberto's excellent image and also in Duncan's image (if he hadn't cropped it off!)

Mark

[MarkS]

Finally I obtained a result I'm pleased with from stacking those 60 one-minute subs:


http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2023/C2022_E3_ZTF_20230120_60subs.jpg

Mark

[The Thing]

Very nice Mark. I've not seen the dust tails so clearly on other shots.

[Roberto]

Excellent Mark!  The anti-tail is something to behold in this one.