Observation by Nick James: Goodbye 12P/Pons-Brooks

Uploaded by

Nick James

Observer

Nick James

Observed

2024 Mar 30 - 20:01

Uploaded

2024 Apr 01 - 07:30

Objects

12P Pons-Brooks

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Constellation

Aries

Field centre

RA: 02^h05^m
Dec: +24°07'
Position angle: -2°28'

Field size

1°49' × 1°24'

Equipment

90mm, f/6.2 refr. + ASI1600MM

Exposure

2x30s

Location

Chelmsford, UK

Target name

12P/Pons-Brooks

Title

Goodbye 12P/Pons-Brooks

About this image

Saturday afternoon was crystal clear here but cirrus moved in at dusk and occupied the northwestern sky. I managed to extract two consecutive 30s frames when the comet was in a clearish spot and here is the result. The curving ion tail is apparent as is the much broader fan close in. The bright star at the bottom is Hamal (alpha Arietis).

Compare this to the extraordinary image taken a few hours later taken by Dan Bartlett using a C14 Hyperstar at f/2 from the dark skies of June Lake, California. Fast optics, dark and very transparent skies and excellent processing has produced one of the best images of this comet that I have seen.

Files associated with this observation

12p_20240330_200132_ndj.jpg (1.9 MB)

Like this image

Callum Potter, Andy Wilson, Alan C Tough, Dominic Ford, Mark Fairfax

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