First go at a comet C/2009 P1 Garradd

[RikM]

Here is my first attempt at imaging a comet. It's 3.5 hr in 3 min subs (probably a bit long given how fast this comet moves). In DSS I stacked on the stars, then stacked on the comet saved as two images and layered them together in Photoshop. Not sure I got it quite right.

Any tips on how I can improve this (or future pics) would be gratefully received.

[Viv]

Rik - that's amazing mate - really nice.

Silly question - how do you know where the comet is ?

[richbyers]

Rik - that's amazing mate - really nice.

Silly question - how do you know where the comet is ?

you can download an update to stellarium- it was going through ursa major last night

[Viv]

you can download an update to stellarium- it was going through ursa major last night

Thank you - I should have realised through that.

Looking now .....

[JB80]

I think it's a great picture. I love the vivid green against the purples, blues, reds and oranges of the stars.

Scarlet, this may help to add comets to stellarium.

http://stargazerslounge.com/primers-tutorials/153213-adding-comets-asteroids-small-bodies-stellarium.html

[Viv]

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you & again ........

[RikM]

I looked up the coordinates on Heavens-Above and then slewed to it using the 'show position' option on my handset.

[Viv]

Thanks Rik - will try that as well.

[TheDaveWalker]

Love those colours Rik!

Here it was on March 27th ( Click on the "View in World Wide Telescope" under the 'astrometry.net' link below ):-

Comet Garradd | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This video shows how much it moved in just 10 minutes! Click on boxes as they appear for more info:-

I wonder what that little moving dot was in the bottom right of the video?

[Dave]

Nice capture Rik

[Beyond_Vision]

A great capture Rik the two tails are showing up really well. Very nicely processed too

Regards

Kevin

[Moonshane]

beautiful image Rik - superb.

[nytecam]

Very nice image Rik By chance I checked comet's coords via HeavensAbove but amazed when I slewed scope to find it stopped at the zenith after dusk tonight:eek: and time for a few quick pics:cool:

Haven't looked for Garradd since last autumn when 'lost' in trees to NW but since done a 'spin' around northern horizon and up into UMa.

[Ags]

Beautiful!

[Adz]

Stunning colour there mate

[Pete Presland]

you got it pretty spot on well done