Imaging comets

[newbie alert]

As title says,any help on imaging comets .do i take long exposure or short exposures..i tried a couple of weeks ago on catalina from my light polluted house..next time in going to try from a dark site..some colour and a tail would be nice..

im imaging with a 8 sct..

[Owmuchonomy]

Similar principle to other DSOs.  You will need to experiment with exposures as comets and their tails vary quite a bit in apparent size and magnitude.  There is a difference when you come to stack your subs. I use DSS and the software contains options just designed for stacking images of comets.  Personally i am not keen on the 'star trailing' effect it gives but that is purely a personal choice. My Catalina (21st Dec 2015 in Virgo) image is a stack of 40 subs each at 120 seconds and ISO1600; f/7.  Your 8 SCT would benefit from a reducer unless your target is very small and bright.

 

[newbie alert]

Ok,thanks for your response.. and your picture is fantastic..have to get something like this..

Did the green pop out when you processed?

[happy-kat]

This is Comet Lovejoy single 10 second exposure showing that the colour might be there straight away. It's a crop of a single image, I found it ver enjoyable chasing this comet.

[newbie alert]

Ok thanks..i imaged catalina a couple of weeks ago..i got the fuzzy cloud around the object but no colour..from a dark sky with no moon im hoping to get some colour..