McNaught by Moonlight

[AstroTasmania]

Went to a favourite spot, Ralphs Bay, just 20 minutes drive away. It looks back to Mt wellington & Hobart. A full Moon rising washed out the tail, but I was more interested in getting a 'picture' not just another comet shot. Tying again to-night.

Clear skies...

[hpcoolahan]

congrats shevill, thats a great shot.

almost looks like a daylight shot but for the stars.
Did you use a digital camera or film?

patrick coolahan

[CanisMajorTom]

Very nice effort Mr Tasmania. And yeah, what hpcoolahan says about the daylight effect looks great with the stars.

[Radar]

Awesome shot Shev. 10 out of 10 :thumbsupmate:

[Mick]

Yes it's as pretty as a picture. :welldone: Shevill...

[AstroTasmania]

Thanks, fellow star gazers. Image was taken with a Nikon D200 digital SLR with a Nikkor ED F/2.8 28mm lens at f/2.8, 30 seconds ISO 400.

Got some more to-night without clouds but comet barely visible with full Moon.

Clear skies... (too late)

[phoenix]

Very Nice Shevill. :thumbsupmate:

[Tenacious Del]

Hi Shevill, how quickly is the comet fading at the moment? I'm hearing that it is still naked eye. Do you think it will still be around during the next new moon?

[AstroTasmania]

I have been to the same location for three successive nights (yes, the skies are cloud free now that the comet is hardly visible) Last night I could barely see it with averted vision and I will not be making any more trips. It is too low down for me to get in the big scope at home.

It seems to have faded quite a lot over three nights, if I did not know where to look, and how to look, I would never have seen it. The rising Moon was later last night so I had a bit longer with a slightly darker sky. The problem is it is still too soon after sunset to get a dark sky.

Clear skies...

First image taken 1st Feb (30 seconds exp), 2nd taken 2nd Feb, (30 seconds) still too much sunlight less moonlight on the 2nd. Both 180 degree wide shots.
The camera is seeing in 30 seconds what the eye can't at 1/25th second.

The Moon shot is the 'bright light' which is causing the problem!

[Radar]

Nice work Shev. Good comparison test to. Is that location far from where you live? Be good if you can do that shot over and over; a series of the comet fading.

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Radar,

Only 15 minutes away, however, the cloud is the limiting factor. It is past naked eye view and too much effort to cart all the EQ6 gear and scopes down there. I did get some nice night seascape shots as well so it was worth the trips.

Solid cloud to-night...

Shevill

[CanisMajorTom]

I love that moon shot Shevill. It is very crisp. :thumbsupmate:

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Canis Major Tom,

It was taken with one of my favourite Nikkor zoom lenses, the F/2.8ED 80 to 200 zoom on the Nikon D200. A very expensive lens, but worth it for the results at full open aperture. My Nikkor F/1.4 85mm has the edge as it is a non zoom. The convenience of a good zoom lens for non critical shots is very useful, even though it weighs a ton.

Clear skies...