The Unexpected brightening of Comet 17/P Holmes

October 25, 2007

The top picture was an accident and was shot at 1/4 second at prime focus of an 80mm f/6.25 (500mm) refractor, not tracked. This image gives a good idea of the view seen with the unaided eye looking up at the constellation of Perseus.

This image was four seconds at prime focus of an 80mm f/6.25 (500mm) refractor, not tracked. This image gives a very good idea how the comet looks through a small telescope at low power. (50x)

October 26, 2007

This image was 12 seconds at prime focus in a C-14 @ f/11 (3911mm), tracked. Taken with a Canon 20D, ISO800.

October 30, 2007

This image was 80 seconds at prime focus in a C-14 @ f/11 (3911mm) tracked. Taken with Canon20D at ISO 800. No moon light or light pollution was affecting this image and I finally got the white balance setting right to render an "actual color" image.

November 11, 2007

This image was 121 seconds at prime focus of a 6" f/15 (2286mm) Cave Astrola refractor, tracked. Taken with a Canon 20D at ISO 800. This was my first observation of this comet where the visual image looked different than the digital image. The visual image reminded me a large horseshoe crab with a short, subtle tail. The comet has grown so much in diameter that I now need to use a shorter focal length scope to image it.