Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
- rwilkinson
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Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
This comet is quite a difficult target, as it's very low in the North: only 17 degrees above the horizon at 9pm, and sinking lower through the night.
We had some haze low in the North during our recent trip to Norfolk, but on returning to Bolton it was rather clearer last night. And I found that when aiming to the North I can get away without using a LPR filter (which is certainly not the case when pointing South).
I just managed to get five exposures for stacking before the comet "set" behind my shed roof: If I get another chance, I'll start earlier in the twilight and set up my tripod as close to the opposite hedge, so that it can see more sky over the shed!
We had some haze low in the North during our recent trip to Norfolk, but on returning to Bolton it was rather clearer last night. And I found that when aiming to the North I can get away without using a LPR filter (which is certainly not the case when pointing South).
I just managed to get five exposures for stacking before the comet "set" behind my shed roof: If I get another chance, I'll start earlier in the twilight and set up my tripod as close to the opposite hedge, so that it can see more sky over the shed!
- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
Two consecutive clear nights - we're getting spoiled!
Anyway, I did have another go at this comet last night, and setting up my tripod with two legs on the lawn and one in the flowerbed had it in sight for much longer:
Anyway, I did have another go at this comet last night, and setting up my tripod with two legs on the lawn and one in the flowerbed had it in sight for much longer:
- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
I'ts noticeably brighter this week, and last night with no star in the background the tail is clearer to see.
- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
This comet is still around, getting nearer and larger.
I got an image this morning using a remote telescope in New Mexico (at the time I was at the dentist having a filling repaired!): It's a 10th magnitude object in Hercules, so would be an early-morning object from here if the skies ever cleared!
I got an image this morning using a remote telescope in New Mexico (at the time I was at the dentist having a filling repaired!): It's a 10th magnitude object in Hercules, so would be an early-morning object from here if the skies ever cleared!
- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
This comet is still in Hercules, so is now well-placed in the early morning sky - but there's bright Moonlight at the moment.
But although it was cloudy in Bolton (and indeed New Mexico!), I did manage to get an image from Tenerife, using the Open University's new COAST robotic telesope: There will be more about this in our April newsletter
But although it was cloudy in Bolton (and indeed New Mexico!), I did manage to get an image from Tenerife, using the Open University's new COAST robotic telesope: There will be more about this in our April newsletter
- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
I got another image back from Tenerife this morning:
- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
I took advantage of another clear night to get an image of this comet:
I had to wait until nearly 11pm for it to rise above the trees to my East, but at least by then the Moon had set, and so the sky was darker.- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
This is one of the comets which I mentioned on Tuesday evening.
It's now in Hercules, so well-placed in our evening skies. Last night I caught it for a while after it had cleared the trees, and before the clouds rolled in:
It's now in Hercules, so well-placed in our evening skies. Last night I caught it for a while after it had cleared the trees, and before the clouds rolled in:
- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
It was a little hazy last night, but at least the comet was clear of the trees by 10:30pm.
- rwilkinson
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Re: Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson
Last night I managed to see this comet (in the eyepiece, rather than on a CCD).
I was at a dark site in the Wye Valley, using a little 130P Newtonian on a Celestron NexStar Alt-Az mount.
My site has a good view to the East, so I could do a quick 2-star alignment on Vega and Arcturus soon after 10pm, and then linking SkySafariPlus on my Nexus7 tablet to the mount via BlueTooth, I sent it to the comet's position.
It was quite distinct in the eyepiece, a little smaller and fainter than the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy (although the latter was much higher in the sky).
I also had a good look for comet 41P: I found the surrounding stars OK, but couldn't make out the comet itself. It was lower in the sky, and I know that it's very diffuse.
I was at a dark site in the Wye Valley, using a little 130P Newtonian on a Celestron NexStar Alt-Az mount.
My site has a good view to the East, so I could do a quick 2-star alignment on Vega and Arcturus soon after 10pm, and then linking SkySafariPlus on my Nexus7 tablet to the mount via BlueTooth, I sent it to the comet's position.
It was quite distinct in the eyepiece, a little smaller and fainter than the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy (although the latter was much higher in the sky).
I also had a good look for comet 41P: I found the surrounding stars OK, but couldn't make out the comet itself. It was lower in the sky, and I know that it's very diffuse.