Comet Machholz attempt tonight (+obligatory moon)

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/16/2005 10:35:59 PM · #1

I took a few shots of comet Machholz tonight, braving 3 deg temps. I didn't carefully polar align so the stars trailed noticeably. Here is the only shot I did any processing with; curves to increase brightness and contrast and a little noise reduction. This was 15 seconds at ISO 800.

I also took a few stabs at the moon, just for fun. Here was the best focused of the bunch:

1/60 second at ISO 100.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

01/16/2005 11:03:55 PM · #2

John, you are a braver man than I. Looked at the thermometer, said, "nope, staying in tonight." I see you were rewarded with darn good seeing, your moon shot takes a bit of additional sharpening quite well.
BTW, did y'all get something for "architecture" yesterday?

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/16/2005 11:14:38 PM · #3

Very nice! Thanks for sharing that and braving the cold for us.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

01/16/2005 11:16:03 PM · #4

good shots, I got the same shots last night. I will post them in a bit.

James

Spork99

OM System OM-1

01/16/2005 11:31:47 PM · #5

Wow, you guys are lucky, I STILL haven't seen it for myself, mostly because it has been cloudy. I'd go outside with my scope if it was -15F and clear.

Discraft

Canon EOS-20D

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC for Canon

01/16/2005 11:56:03 PM · #6

They are really cool photos, i have been looking for the comet unfortunatly haven't found it... :(
I have tried to take photos too throught my meade 70at but have got any succes on any of them, have tried several things but it always comes out of focus.
Its sad having the material to take photos and all that and not get any fair results... have had help but nothing, i have seen sites and sites but can't get it right seems like it comes out shaked always... :(

01/17/2005 12:29:17 AM · #7

Originally posted by kirbic:

Yeah, it was freakin' cold out there tonight. My fingers still hurt.

Shooting downtown was fun yesterday though we had to wait more than two hours for the spot to open up, and then wait for the crowds to thin out before we could shoot (Phantom performance). I ended up not submitting anything though Andrea did. She got some good shots.

01/17/2005 12:30:19 AM · #8

Originally posted by Discraft:

Try some brighter objects Dis. Have you shot the moon yet? Which 70mm scope to you have, the ETX?

01/17/2005 12:33:14 AM · #9

Originally posted by Discraft:

one trick on getting good focus is to find a bright star and focus on that, take a few test images and adjust your focus as needed. Once you get the focus you want move the scope to the object you want to image and you will have good focus.

Sometims if I cant find a comet, I put my camera on a tripod and point it to where I think the general area the comet is in, then I take a 60 sec exposure and look for a green blob and then I know where to point the scope.

James

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/17/2005 10:12:53 AM · #10

Shameless bump for the day crew.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

01/17/2005 10:27:54 AM · #11

Please also see jab119's comet and moon photos in this (now locked) thread.

Any replies to that thread should be posted here.

-Terry

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

01/17/2005 10:33:05 AM · #12

Originally posted by ClubJuggle:

Please also see jab119's comet and moon photos in this (now locked) thread.

Any replies to that thread should be posted here.

-Terry

Tell us more about refractors...I would love to take photos of the moon like that.

Beautiful!

01/17/2005 10:37:05 AM · #13

Thanks for consolidating the threads Club. Here is James' image again to make sure everyone sees it.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/18/2005 07:36:36 PM · #14

rats my thread got locked....but I was expecting that.....

John, thanks for the kind words, but I still have a long way to go for the deep sky stuff. I have the moon kicked in the butt, I just need more time and pratice processing multiple short exposures

James

smartypants

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

01/18/2005 07:39:19 PM · #15

Originally posted by jab119:

What software are you using to process your multiple exposures? There are tons of programs out there, many shareware and freeware that automate much of this process for you (aligning, adjusting levels, etc.), and do a much better job than Photoshop.

edit: this is strangeghost talking on my daughter's account. She always logs me out when she has a photo entered in a challenge! :-)

Message edited by author 2005-01-18 19:40:03.

Ironworker

Nikon D70

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

01/18/2005 08:18:59 PM · #16

I saw it, unfortunately, I didn't have my camera or telescope around. I was out, beause my sister ran my truck out of gas. It was bitter cold (try -9 + WC), and my only thought at the time was get some gas in this truck. Then on Sunday I read my email alert from NASA about Machholz & the Auroras we had the last few nights. Unfortunately none of my 'northern lights' pics came out as much more than a lighter dark streak. Those were pretty good last night, despite the freezing cold.