The Comet and the Cluster, Lovejoy and the Pleiades (Updated with new images)

[Fumesucker]

Last edited Sun Jan 18, 2015, 12:18 PM - Edit history (1)

Nine exposures of 30 seconds @ ISO1600 Canon 350D w/Nikon 50mm f1.8 @ f4. Processed in Deep Sky Stacker, Iris and Paint Shop Pro. It was just above freezing so I could push the ISO and still get relatively clean shots out of my antique DSLR. I had about a dozen two second focusing and framing shots @ f1.8 and then I stopped it down to f4 and shot the thirty second ones before the sensor warmed up too much and got noisy.

You can just see a hint of the comet tail coming down like a rocket below it and the blue nebulosity in the Pleiades. It was easier to see in the bitmap, it's a bit too subtle for the jpeg. This is about the closest Lovejoy will get to the cluster it was just chance I had a clear night and a hole through the trees that lined up with the shot. Around here it's trees or lights, take your choice.

It's taken me a couple of years to learn how to get the light pollution gradients out of my shots, I was pleased with the way this one turned out it had a horrible red gradient across it with such a wide field.






So I got some more shots last night 1-17-05 and came up with these two images. Same setup as before but this time it was 18 images of 30 sec @ f2.8 and ISO 800.

The first image is the finished picture..



The second image is a negative that's actually the mask I used in one step of the processing to remove the light pollution from the finished image, it shows the extent of Lovejoy's tail which I can't get to show up in the final image if I get the colors remotely right, there is just too much light pollution for it to work with the equipment I have. the big blotch at lower right is the result of light pollution gradient across the image..

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This is wonderful! You have done something magical, my dear Fumesucker!

I am blown away.



Congratulations!

[alfredo]

2. Beautiful work!

Just a few minutes ago I took my 12X63 binocs outside. I found it even though there's a lot of light pollution here.

Look for the Star Walk app for your mobile device. It was a big help in locating the comet.

http://vitotechnology.com/star-walk.html

[Mira]

3. I am stunned and awed

By your artistry and our universe.

[mnhtnbb]

4. Absolutely amazing!

My dad was an amateur astronomer and every where we lived when I was growing up
he built an observatory in the backyard for his telescope. I cannot believe the shot
you got with your camera!

[brer cat]

5. That is awesome, Fumesucker. nt

[2naSalit]

6. Awesome!!

And thanks for sharing!

[Warren DeMontague]

7. I knew there was a reason I liked you.

Well done.