Comets

Comet C/2022 E2 in Cancer

This is Comet C/2022 E2 (ATLAS) currently moving through the constellation Cancer and sporting a nice tail. 60-minute stacked image.
Tech Specs: Orion 8” RC Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at -10F, 60 x 60 seconds, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: January 31, 2024. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

Close up view of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) on November 2, 2024.
Tech Specs: Orion 8” RC Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at -10F, 42 x 60 second exposures, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: November 2, 2024. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Movement of Comet 103P/Hartley in Gemini

Here is a 60-minute video showing the movement of Comet 103P/Hartley in the constellation Gemini.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, 60 X 60 seconds at 0F. Processed using Tycho Tracker software. Image Date: October 12, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Observation Observation - December 8, 2023

This is Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks as it appeared on December 8, 2023 as it was moving past the star Vega in the constellation of Lyra in the Northern Hemisphere.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at -10F, 60 x 60 seconds, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in Tycho Tracker and DSS/PixInisght software. Image Date: December 8, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2022 E2 Time Lapse Video

This is Comet C/2022 E2 (ATLAS) currently moving through the constellation Cancer and sporting a nice tail. This is a one-hour video compilation from last night.
Tech Specs: Orion 8” RC Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at -10F, 60 x 60 seconds, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in Tycho Tracker software and recorded with OBS. Image Date: January 31, 2024. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Outburst of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks

Here is a quick view of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks taken last night between some high clouds. Just in the last several days, this comet has gone from a star-like appearance to brightening by five magnitudes and now sporting a coma in the shape of two horns.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 23x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed Tycho Tracker. Image Date: July 23, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Observation

Here is a view of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks taken last night before the clouds rolled in (again).
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 51x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed Tycho Tracker. Image Date: July 30, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 103P/Hartley and the Eskimo Nebula

Here is a 60-minute stacked view showing the bluish-green glow of Comet 103P/Hartley in the upper left moving through the constellation Gemini and the planetary nebula, known as the Eskimo Nebula, on the center right (the large bluish streak).
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, 60 X 60 seconds at 0F. Processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: October 12, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF Observation

Here is a 48-minute stacked image taken during our live stream event last evening of Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF during its closest approach to Earth. Tycho software (Daniel Parrott) estimated the movement at 16.7" per minute.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO AS2600mc-Pro running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ZWO EAF, ZWO ASIAir Pro, 48 x 60 seconds. Processed using DeepSkyStacker and PixInsight. Image Date: February 1, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

2023-02-02 06-39-12.mp4

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF Observation Video

Here is a 60-minute time lapse video showing the movement of Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF during its close approach to Earth, watch the changes in the ion tail during the video.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO AS2600mc-Pro running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ZWO EAF, ZWO ASIAir Pro, 60 x 60 seconds. Processed using Tycho v9.3.7. Image Date: February 1, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2020 R7 (ATLAS) Observation

This is Comet C/2020 R7 (ATLAS) observed on July 6, 2023 in the constellation Corona Borealis. Estimated magnitude at the time of my observation was 17.2.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 30x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS, PixInsight and Tycho Tracker. Image Date: July 6, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

119P_011623.mp4

Comet 119P/Parker-Hartley Observation

Here is a 40-minute time lapse video showing Comet 119P/Parker-Hartley moving through the constellation Gemini in the early morning hours of January 16, 2023.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO AS2600mc-Pro running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, 40 x 60 second guided exposures, focused with a ZWO EAF, controlled with a ZWO ASIAir Pro. Processed using Tycho. Image Date: January 16, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet29P.mp4

Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Observation

Here is a 60-minute time lapse video showing Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 moving through the constellation Auriga.
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 60 x 60 seconds at -10C, processed using Tycho. Image Date: January 16, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W95), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet ZTF 2023-01-29 07-10-28.mp4

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF Through Clouds

Here is a 60-minute time lapse video showing the movement of Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF traveling through Camelopardalis (with clouds and lost tracking). Tycho software (Daniel Parrott) estimated the movement at 14.1" per minute. The magnitude estimate was significantly off due to the cloud cover.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO AS2600mc-Pro running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ZWO EAF, ZWO ASIAir Pro, 60 x 60 seconds. Processed using Tycho v9.3.7. Image Date: January 29, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 2021Y1 2022-12-14 07-01-59.mp4

Comet C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)

Here is Comet C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS) from last evening.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, Antares Focal Reducer, ZWO AS071 running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ZWO ASIAir Plus, ZWO EAF, 60 x 60 second exposures, darks from the library and flats after the imaging session, DeepSkyStacker and Tycho Tracker. Image Date: December 14, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet29P_2022-12-14 06-56-31.mp4

Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann

Here is Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann from last evening.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, Antares Focal Reducer, ZWO AS071 running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ZWO ASIAir Plus, ZWO EAF, 60 x 60 second exposures, darks from the library and flats after the imaging session, DeepSkyStacker and Tycho Tracker. Image Date: December 14, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) Observation

Here is a 60-minute combined exposure showing Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the early morning hours and moving through the constellation Bootes.
You can see the thin ion tails extending to the upper left, likely the result of a variable solar wind on ions ejected by the icy comet nucleus. The comet's white dust tail is visible to the left and much shorter. The green glow is the comet's coma, caused by glowing carbon gas. Comet ZTF is expected to pass nearest the Earth in early February, after which it should dim dramatically. (REF: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230109.html).
From EarthSky.org “Astronomers call this comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). It got its name because it was the third such object to be discovered in the fifth half-month (A, B, C, D, E) of 2022. The ZTF stands for the Zwicky Transient Facility, which uses the 48-inch Samuel Oschin robotic telescope, located at Mt. Palomar in southern California.”
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO AS2600mc-Pro running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, 60 x 60 second guided exposures, focused with a ZWO EAF, controlled with a ZWO ASIAir Pro. Processed using DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: January 16, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

cometvid.avi

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) Observation - July 29, 2022 - 51-minute raw unprocessed video.

Got some credits in the latest NASA video for my video of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). What's Up: Skywatching Tips from NASA is produced each month and is available at: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/

Comet 44P/Reinmuth

Comet 44P/Reinmuth observation from last evening.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO AS2600mc-Pro running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, 45 x 60 second guided exposures, focused with a ZWO EAF, controlled with a ZWO ASIAir Pro. Processed using Tycho Tracker v9.3.7 by Daniel Parrott. Image Date: October 9, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS) Observation

VIDEO IS HERE
Here is Comet C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS) as observed last evening in the constellation Taurus.
Object: C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS) Right Asc: 04h 25m 15.6s Decl: 13° 23' 30.0" (J2000)Magnitude: 15.06 Altitude: 60° Solar Elongation: 171.6° Constellation: TauSun distance: 407.39 Million Km Earth distance: 260.77 Million Km* Data from TheSkyLive.com
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO AS2600mc-Pro running at -10C, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, 56 x 60 second guided exposures, focused with a ZWO EAF, controlled with a ZWO ASIAir Pro. Processed using Tycho Tracker. Image Date: November 26, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 110P/Hartley

Here is a view of Comet Hartley (110P) now in the constellation Gemini on March 4, 2022.
110P/Hartley live position and data on March 4, 2022.Right Ascension: 07h 51m 21.8s Declination: 13° 27' 44.0" (J2000)Magnitude: 16.47 (Estimated: JPL) Constellation: GeminiSun Distance: 387,987,959 km [20.9 km/s] Earth Distance: 270,433,333 km [19.0 km/s]Perihelion: 21 Oct 2021 05:51 UTC [+133d 19h 8m 37s]
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 54 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: March 4, 2022 @ 01:00 (UT). Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2017 K2 Observation

Here is a 56-minute stacked image of Comet C/2017 K2 as it cruises through the constellation Ophiuchus in our southern skies. Check out the HUGE coma (cometary atmosphere) on this comet! Measurements suggest that the coma is nearly as large as the planet Jupiter.
From EarthSky.org “Astronomers first spotted this comet in 2017 using the Pan-STARRS survey instrument in Hawaii. At the time, they said it was the farthest active inbound comet they’d yet seen. It was between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus when they first saw it. Now it’s in the inner solar system, with closest approach to Earth on July 14. The comet will be closest to the sun several months later, on December 19, 2022. With a small telescope, you should be able to spot the comet throughout the summer.
According to in-the-sky.org, the current visual magnitude is listed as 8.81.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, Antares Focal Reducer, ZWO ASI290MC, ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, ZWO OAG, 56 x 60 seconds at 5C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: July 19, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) Observation - July 29, 2022

Here is a 51-minute combined exposure and raw unprocessed video showing C/2022 E3 (ZTF) moving through the constellation Hercules, what a nice little tail.
From EarthSky.org “Astronomers call this comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). It got its name because it was the third such object to be discovered in the fifth half-month (A, B, C, D, E) of this year. The ZTF stands for the Zwicky Transient Facility, which uses the 48-inch Samuel Oschin robotic telescope, located at Mt. Palomar in southern California.”
Info at the time the image was taken:
Object: C/2022 E3 (ZTF)Right Asc: 17h 39m 46.1s Dec: 35° 54' 01.1" (J2000) [HMS|Dec]Magnitude: 13.80 Altitude: 75° Solar Elongation: 111.4° Constellation: HerSun distance: 398.20 Million Km Earth distance: 316.93 Million KmRise: 13:34 Transit: 22:12 Set: 06:46 America/New_York
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, Antares Focal Reducer, ZWO ASI290MC (on Orion 60mm Guidescope), ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 69 x 60 seconds at 5C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: July 29, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)

Here is a view of C/2019 L3 (ATLAS) taken on 21 Feb 2022. Stats at the time the image was taken:
Right Ascension: 06h 35m 20.8s Declination: 22° 49' 37.5" (J2000)Magnitude: 9.2 (Observed: COBS) Constellation: GeminiSun Distance: 534,885,571 km [22.3 km/s] Earth Distance: 434,198,442 km [28.1 km/s]Perihelion: 9 Jan 2022 17:57 UTC [+42d 6h 25m 32s]
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 54 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: February 21, 2022 @ 02:30 (UT). Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 116P/Wild 4

Here is a view of Comet 116P/Wild 4 taken on 21 Feb 2022. Stats at the time the image was taken:
Right Ascension: 09h 42m 53.8s Declination: 18° 58' 40.6" (J2000)Magnitude: 14.90 (Estimated: JPL) Constellation: LeoSun Distance: 361,523,431 km [21.9 km/s] Earth Distance: 215,377,993 km [8.9 km/s]Perihelion: 10 Jul 2022 20:24 UTC [-139d 17h 53m 44s]
HISTORY: Paul Wild (Astronomical Institute, Berne University, Switzerland) on 1990 January 21.98 at a position of RA=9h 34m 31.69s, DEC=+20° 39' 39.5" (1950.0). He described the comet as strongly condensed, with a total magnitude of 13.5-14.0. There was a fan-shaped tail extending about one arc minute toward the northwest.
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 54 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: February 21, 2022 @ 02:30 (UT). Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Here is a view of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko taken on 27 Feb 2022. Some of the gaps are from the removal of cloudy images during the run. Stats at the time the image was taken:

Right Ascension: 08h 23m 01.2s Declination: 26° 54' 37.6" (J2000)
Magnitude: 11.1 (Observed: COBS) Constellation: Cancer
Sun Distance: 273,951,572 km [26.7 km/s] Earth Distance: 140,817,219 km [23.0 km/s]
Perihelion: 23 Jan 2022 07:06 UTC [+34d 19h 27m 56s]

Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 90 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: February 21, 2022 @ 02:30 (UT). Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)

Here is a quick view of Comet C/2019 L3 (ATLAS) while it was in the constellation Lynx on December 12, 2021. Not visible to the naked eye, it will pass closest to the Earth on January 10, 2022.
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF. 56 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats, stacked in DSS. Image Date: December 12, 2021. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Observation of Comet C/2019 L3 (Atlas) in Gemini

Here is a 60-minute combined image of the comet designated as C/2019 L3 (Atlas) as it is heading through the constellation Gemini. The comet is just past perihelion (closest approach to the sun) and heading back out into space. The comet was discovered as an asteroidal object by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). The discovery image on 10 June 2019 showed it as an 18th magnitude, apparently starlike, object moving very slowly in the constellation Lacerta.
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 60 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks, processed using DSS. Image Date: January 25, 2022. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Here is a view of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko taken on 21 Feb 2022 sporting an interesting looking tail. Stats at the time the image was taken:
Right Ascension: 08h 22m 36.9s Declination: 27° 28' 17.6" (J2000)Magnitude: 10.5 (Observed: COBS) Constellation: CancerSun Distance: 266,941,984 km [27.2 km/s] Earth Distance: 129,406,197 km [21.3 km/s]Perihelion: 23 Jan 2022 07:06 UTC [+28d 19h 21m 22s]
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 54 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: February 21, 2022 @ 02:30 (UT). Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2019 U6 (Lemmon) Observation

Comet C/2019 U6 (Lemmon) is currently in the constellation Coma Berenices and hovering at magnitude 8.8.
INFO: C/2019 U6 (Lemmon), or Comet Lemmon is a long period comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered by the Mount Lemmon Survey on October 31, 2019.
Tech Specs: ZWO ASI071mc-pro, Williams Optics REDCAT51, 16 x 60 seconds with dark and flat frames. Stacked in DSS and processed in PixInsight. Image Date: July 31, 2020 (UT 1 Aug 2020 @ 0300HRS). Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Here is a view of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as it is making its way through the constellation Gemini. Closest approach to Earth will be on 11/12 November 2021.
Tech Specs: Sky Watcher Esprit 120ED, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF. 82 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats. Image Date: October 27, 2021. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Here is a view of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as it is making its way through the constellation Gemini. Closest approach to Earth will be on the 11th and 12th of November 2021.
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF. 60 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats. Stacked in DSS and processed with PixInsight. Image Date: November 6, 2021. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) - July 17, 2020

Here is Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) from last evening, just a single image before the clouds rolled in. Tech Specs: Canon 6D, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens, tripod mounted, ISO 400, 6 seconds, f/2.8, 70mm. Image Date: July 17, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) - July 31, 2020

Here is Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) passing in front of several galaxies on July 31, 2020.
Tech Specs: ZWO ASI071mc-pro, Williams Optics REDCAT51, 29 x 60 seconds with dark and flat frames. Stacked in DSS and processed in PixInsight. Image Date: July 31, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) Observation

Comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) is currently in the constellation Coma Berenices and hovering at magnitude 10.2.
INFO: C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) is an Oort cloud comet discovered on 2 October 2017 when it was 9.2 AU (1.38 billion km) from the Sun.
Tech Specs: ZWO ASI071mc-pro, Williams Optics REDCAT51, 16 x 60 seconds with dark and flat frames. Stacked in DSS and processed in PixInsight. Image Date: July 31, 2020 (UT 1 Aug 2020 @ 0300HRS). Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Perseus Double Cluster and Comet PanSTARRS (C/2017 T2)

Here is a view of the famous double cluster in the constellation Perseus (between Perseus and Cassiopeia), they are also designate NGC 869 and NGC 884. Check out the red supergiants in this view! Did you know that the Perseus Double Cluster is surrounded by one of the largest concentrations of red supergiants stars in the sky? (Red supergiants, neutrinos and the Double Cluster, Tristram Brelstafff, 1996). Also in this image is a visitor, Comet PanSTARRS (C/2017 T2), you can find it just right of center as a greenish blur with a little tail pointing to the upper left.
Tech Specs: Williams Optic Redcat 51, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -10C, 30 x 120 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 29, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) – March 21, 2020

Here is a view of Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) from last evening, March 21, 2020. This is just a 14-minute stacked exposure showing the comet as it is traveling through the constellation Ursa Major. The comet tail is clearly visible.
Technical Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, ZWO ASI071mc-Pro, 14 x 60 second exposures, Gain 200, Temp -5C, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SGP v3.1 and processed in DeepSkyStacker. Image date: March 21, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) - July 14, 2020

Here is Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) from last evening. This is a nine minute exposure using 20-second subs. Just starting to capture some details in the tail.
Tech Specs: Canon 6D, Williams Optics REDCAT on an iOptron SkyTracker mount (1st Gen). ISO 400, 27 x 20 seconds with darks, bias and flat frames. Stacked in DSS and processed in PixInsight and Adobe Lightroom. Image Date: July 14, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet Swift-Gehrels (64P)

Comet Swift-Gehrels (64P) is a periodic comet which has a current orbital period of 9.23 years. Here it is passing through the constellation Andromeda, look close and you can see the spiral galaxy NGC 218 on the right at magnitude 13.6 and a small galaxy it is interacting with (PGC 2726). Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, Canon 6D stock camera, ISO 3200, 5 x 60 second exposures with dark/bias frames, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Image date: October 30, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet Swift-Gehrels (64P)

Here is a 9-minute image of Comet 64P/Swift-Gehrels as it passes from the constellation Triangulum and into Andromeda. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Canon 6D stock camera, ISO 3200, 9 x 60 second exposures with dark/bias frames, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Image date: November 25, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet 46P/Wirtanen

Comet 46P/Wirtanen as seen on December 10, 2018, 20-minute exposure. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Canon 6D stock camera, ISO 3200, 20 x 60 seconds, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Image date: December 10, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet Stephan-Oterma (38P)

Comet Stephan-Oterma (38P) moving through the constellation Lynx last evening. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Canon 6D stock camera, ISO 3200, 10 x 60 second exposures. Image date: January 11, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet Wirtanen (46P)

Comet Wirtanen (46P) moving from Ursa Major to the constellation Lynx on January 11, 2019. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Canon 6D stock camera, ISO 3200, 10 x 60 second exposures. Image date: January 11, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Comet C/2018 W2 (Africano)

Here is a view of Comet C/2018 W2 (Africano) taken last evening, August 30, 2019. This comet was discovered on November 27, 2018, by B. M. Africano (Mount Lemmon Survey) while at 20th-magnitude and showing a possible tail. Currently, this comet is parked in the constellation Camelopardalis, the current visual magnitude is estimated to be 12.87 (ref: https://theskylive.com/c2018w2-info).
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Canon 6D, ISO 3200, 15 x 60 second exposures with dark/bias frames, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Image date: August 30, 2019 @ 03:54 UT. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

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