FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Comet C/2006T1 Levy

[Andrew Cooper <acooper@xxxxxxxxx>]

When this hit the club listserv yesterday I almost immediately decided 
to make a try at photographing it.  I checked my gear and stacked it by 
the door and went to bed at 8:00pm for a 2:00am wakeup.  I joined Dean 
Salman out at his place at 3:00am with all the gear for 
astrophotography.  Beside Dean my other observing partner was Murphey!  
I was plagued by small problems all morning, from tracking and alignment 
issues (I ended up starhopping to the comet from Saturn with a GOTO 
scope!), infuriatingly timed clouds, a gusty breeze and more.  But I 
muddled on and ended up getting enough material for a decent image, a 
stack of 13 images out of 40. NexStar GPS 11", cass focus with a f/6.4 
focal reducer, modified Photometrics CoolSNAP ES2 camera, 30 second 
exposures binned 2x2.

The resulting image can be viewed at 
http://www.siowl.com/photos/C2006T1Levy20061004.jpg

The comet was fairly easy visually as well in the 11" scope, a good 
sized coma with no visible tail.  I urge anyone to give it a try, 
certainly easy to find just below Saturn. Ephemeride data at 
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/2006T1.html

I had hoped to make it a two comet morning, but there was no sign of 
comet SWAN in the dawn with banks of clouds on the horizon.

Congratulations David!!!
 
Andrew

Andrew Cooper
----------------------------------------------------
http://www.siowl.com



--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.