Comet 168/Hergenrother

[Dave]

Despite clouds I had to get out and try for Comet 168/Hergenrother which has suddenly brightened to about 10th magnitude.

Visually it was easy in the 7.5 in Mac Newt. showing a slightly fan-shaped structure.

My very quick and roughly processed image shows that there is a small tail developing.

Clouds finally put paid to my imaging after 12 subs were taken.

Dave

[The Sailor]

Nice one Dave, well done on catching it, out at the moment, looked but did not find, will have another go later

Jim

[John]

Nice shot dave

Thats pretty much how it looks though my 10" newt tonight. It's nice to have an image confirm the direction of the "fan".

[Dave]

It's clear again. Might make a night of it...

[tich]

Nice image Dave

[JamesF]

I've just found it with the 10" dob and that's pretty much how it looks to me. Unfortunately my father in law is polluting the patio with all their house lights, so I'll be waiting until he goes to bed for a better view.

James

[andrew63]

yes good to have something to look at Dave - wonder if the tail will develop more?

andrew

[JamesF]

Had another look and I'm not sure that this evening I could call which way the tail was from the view along. Forced to have a stab I might even have said it was entirely the opposite direction to Dave's image. I could clearly see that the comet wasn't circular, but I couldn't make out much more. The seeing isn't great this evening and in fact cloud has just rolled in so I've called it a night.

James

[Black Knight]

That's a great image.

[The Sailor]

Faled to find it last night, I did have an elongated light on the cam but was not sure, tried doing a plate solve on the photo but that failed

Jim

[Daniel-K]

we got it its a great comet with a nice tail a bit of green tinge to it

[The Sailor]

Just cracked the plate solve, have a fair idea of where it will be tonight so if a clear night all will be well

Jim

[lukebl]

Very nice capture.

I was going for it myself, but the clouds rolled in, and then DSS wouldn't play ball. However, I did manage to do this rough animation of it, at around the same time as your image. Cropped from 18 frames, captured with Canon 450, 250mm f/4.7 Newt, 2 minute exposures. It's a nice bright one, so better conditions and more exposures should look good.

[JB80]

Nice images.

Would this show up if I pointed a 300mm camera lens at it?

If the fog stays away I might see if I can find it in the 6".

[John]

Thats a great animation Luke

Nice images.

Would this show up if I pointed a 300mm camera lens at it?

If the fog stays away I might see if I can find it in the 6".

It might but it's a rather small object - even at 150x it did not take up much room in the field of view of my eyepiece !

[JamesF]

Thats a great animation Luke

Indeed it is. Well done.

It might but it's a rather small object - even at 150x it did not take up much room in the field of view of my eyepiece !

Quite. It looked rather small in my BGOs at a similar magnification.

James

[JB80]

It'd be worth a punt maybe, no harm in trying anyway.

I'm not too confident of getting it in the scope.

[Black Knight]

That's a terrific animation Luke, top stuff

[The Sailor]

Just added it to Stellarium so should see something

Jim

[JamesF]

I couldn't find it last night when I searched for it in Stellarium, but it's definitely there if you have the comets loaded. No idea why it wouldn't come up in the search.

James

[The Sailor]

James I just added it, imported it from the net, done a search on Stellarium, it came up and hit the button, went to where I expected it to be after doing the plate solve from Daves photo.

Jim

[JamesF]

Perhaps something I did updated the base data for comets. Not really sure. Be a good thing to return to next weekend if it's clear. The lack of moon might help. I thought last night that it would be very easy to miss.

James

[Dave]

Nice animation Luke.