scotty1

I've just picked up C/2020 V2 (ZTF) on a 10 and 20 second exposure with a pentax astrotracer, and 55-300mm zoom on static tripod. Was curious if I could pick it up with basic equipment. It's a bit hazy and humid over the town so not ideal conditions. Stellarium says it was Mag 10.59

Woke up at 02.00 Took a dozen shots of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) but it's not clear, thin cirrus around. Yorkshire and Lincs look clearer on Satellite. It's also -4C so not nice to be standing outside time for bed.

Woke up at 04.00 am today to check for C/2022 E3 (ZTF). Clear sky untill about 04.40 am , found the comet easily with a wide 90mm photo shot above Corona Borealis. Then got my bros 10x50 bins and could see the Comet fairly easily. The clouds rolled in after about 30 mins. Quite cold 3.5 C and windy. Quick in camera RAW to JPG Single shot 300mm f5.8 10 seconds ISO 6400 with Pentax K70 + Astrotracer.

I had a brief look about 6am with bins but couldn't find it, then the clouds arrived. Why would it have a brighter mag in 10x50 bins, rather than a 12" scope? I would of thought the other way round.

Awesome result

A couple of photos of the comet from the backyard. The moon was around 84% for the zoomed shot. The Corona Borealis photo from last Friday, see if you can spot the comet. And a single exposure from 3.30am today. Alot of clouds moving in , and quite hazy. These are 10 second exposures with astrotracer and Pentax K70 +90mm tamron macro for the Corona shot, and 55-300 Pentax zoom at 170mm for the second shot. This is a stack of 20x 10 seconds exp from a week or so back. The moon was at 90%

The RH was 72% last night, but the sky seemed very hazy. About 3am I got a few shots of Corona Borealis and C/2022 E3 (ZTF), using a static DSLR on tripod. This was quite low in the sky, and a few clouds were quickly passing by. I tried to find the comet with 10x50 bins but wasn't completely sure I could see it. The clouds look like they are rolling in again for tonight.

I remember that Jeremy Beadle prank , when a spacecraft crashed in the street, it wasn't flourite though lol. The lady asking the ET " would you like a cup of tea? " A repeat of that would be impossible nowadays, with antisocial media latching onto it before they had dug the crater.

I managed to get one Geminid, the batteries on my camera only lasted about 30mins. Probably too cold , for me and the batteries. This was just after 2am on the 15th

I didn't put enough effort into seeing these, because of the cold -6C, and some domestic problems. I did capture one , and saw eight during a 20 min observation.

A very rare combo here, an Aurora and Comet would of completed the set. https://spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=190951

It was -6C about 1am, I had a look for about 20mins 01.30 onwards and saw six Geminids. Two were at least as bright as Sirius

Was the peak last night ,Or tonight?

I see some sites had the peak as yesterday into today.

Too cold and tired to check for Geminids last night. Not sure if the peak has gone. I may have a short try tonight if I don't freeze.

It maybe clear on Thursday, I thought the Geminids lasted longer than it.

I've been gazing southeast as there are a few flashes of lightning off the Essex/Suffolk coast. It's the coldest temps so far this winter at -5C , the fog is trying to form now. Mars and Sirius looked bright, but the moon is overpowering. Haven't seen any Geminids yet. It's looking cloudy again until Wednesday.

Foreground can be a good idea to give scale to the photo. Usually meteors look shorter if you are facing directly at the radiant, as they are tracking end on. https://ukmeteornetwork.co.uk/news/professional-tips-how-photograph-meteors/ Here's a couple I got of the Persieds

Clear skies for a change I took this with my mobile phone Moon and Mars

Frosty and clear hereabouts from about 5am. Stayed in a holiday let in Providence Lane years ago , could see the trains from the bedroom window.

Next week will be frosty in most areas at night, but I think clear intervals will be likely, rather than completely clear. Sleet and snow showers could be quite frequent too.

Nice shots The weather looked a bit misty on the Weybourne light pollution shot. FYI the steam loco was once owned by painter the late David Shepherd. Normally the trains are not fitted with fancy lights, it's a gimmicky winter feature for Xmas etc. I haven't been up to Weybourne for several years, I recall seeing plenty of tadpoles in that pond. And quite a few bluebells amongst the trees.

This time of year can be very Murky and dull, because there's not much power in the sun to shift fog. High pressure can end up being cloudier than low pressure sometimes, because lack of wind keeps low cloud in situ (ACG) Anticyclonic Gloom. Wind is set to increase during the next few days, but winds from the North Sea are never great for clear skies. One thing that may help is lower humidity arriving from the continental airmass, but there's going to be a more north drift next week, this will boost the humidity up as the air flows over the sea. Sea temperatures around the UK and Mediterranean have in general been higher than usual this year, because of the prolonged heat in Europe.

Whenever I look at these DSO photos, I'm always amazed at the amount of stars in the background.

Just for good measure we could be adding sleet/snow into the mix by next week. With the wind in the ENE western areas have a higher chance of staying clearer. N.Ireland , western Scotland Wales.... If it's clear we have a 75% moon close to the radiant for the Geminids.