Comet Hartley 2 (103P/Hartley)

On the night of October 7, 2010 at New Moon, the comet passed near the Double Cluster in the constellation Perseus. At the time this image was taken, the comet was approximately 13 million miles from Earth (compared with a distance of 7500 light years for the double cluster).

To see an image I took of the Double Cluster (without the comet, of course), click here: NGC 884 and 869 (The Double Cluster)

Acquisition info:

10/7/2010, North Branch NY

Canon t1i (modified) through William Optics FLT98 with 0.8 focal reducer (FL 494 mm)

204 X 90 secs, ISO 1600. 42 of these images (covering 90 minutes) used for final image. Aligned in IP; combined on comet core using Deep Sky Stacker (Kappa Sigma Combine); combined on stars using IP (median). Final image composed in PSCS5.

Guided on stars using PHD, Starlight Express Lodestar, through Astrotech RC8

Mount: CGEM