Observation by Peter Carson: Comet C/2022E3 (ZTF)

Uploaded by

Peter Carson

Observer

Peter Carson

Observed

2023 Jan 18 - 03:56

Uploaded

2023 Jan 18 - 15:29

Objects

C/2022 E3

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Constellation

Bootes

Field centre

RA: 15^h32^m
Dec: +46°31'
Position angle: -91°43'

Field size

12° × 8°

Equipment

Canon 60Da DSLR and Astrotrac

Exposure

Stack of 12 x 90 sec exposures

Location

Pagglesham east Essex

Target name

Comet C/2022E3 (ZTF)

Title

Comet C/2022E3 (ZTF)

About this image

Comet C/2022E3 (ZTF) is looking good and is a nice binocular object from a fairly dark site. Early this morning at about 3am I ventured to Paglesham to get away from the worst of the lights and could easily see it in my 10 x 56 binoculars. The sky was a little milky, I think had conditions been better and my eyes a little younger I might have seen it naked eye. Binoculars showed a slightly asymmetric coma approximately 8 arcminutes in diameter and a tail around 45 arcminutes long towards the NW.

I decided to have a go imaging using a Canon 60Da DSLR and 100mm lens on an Astrotrac. The attached picture is a stack of 12 x 90 sec exposures with the comet’s motion frozen against the background stars. The image records the tail going off the frame after 6.5 degrees.

Speaking of freezing I had a problem getting all my gear back in the car after my imaging session ended approaching 04:30am. The car’s tailgate had frozen shut so the tripod, astrotrac and cases of other bits had to be threaded in through the driver's door.

Files associated with this observation

2022E3_20230118_0356_PCarson.jpg (454.7 kB)

Like this image

Duncan Hale-Sutton, Simon Kidd, Tim Haymes, Jeremy Shears, Nick James, Bill Leatherbarrow, Mike Harlow, Geof Lewis

Comments

David Swan, 2023 Jan 18 - 16:28 UTC

This is a lovely image, Peter. And good to hear your report on visual obs. I've been going out with my bins, but always seem to miss clear skies. David

Tim Haymes, 2023 Jan 18 - 21:11 UTC

Very nice image. I didnt think a 100ml would record anything - how wrong i was. I will set up my 200mm F2.8 for the next attempt - thanks

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