Observation by Nick James: C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) dust tail

Uploaded by

Nick James

Observer

Nick James

Observed

2025 Jan 20 - 19:57

Uploaded

2025 Jan 21 - 15:21

Objects

C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)

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Constellation

Aquarius

Field centre

RA: 22^h04^m
Dec: -20°54'
Position angle: +57°21'

Field size

20° × 14°

Equipment

Sony A7s iii + 100mm, f/2 Canon lens

Exposure

41x5s, ISO 1600

Location

Mt. Teide, Tenerife

Target name

C/2024 G3

Title

C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) dust tail

About this image

With the help of Nicolas Lefaudeux I've processed my images from last night (Jan 20) which show the extensive dust tail of C/2024 G3 with the comet's head 7 degrees below the horizon as seen from 28N.

The image is a stack of 41x5s, ISO1600, Sony A7s iii, 100mm, f/2 lens taken at 1957UT on 2025-01-20. The field of view is 20x14 deg and the tail stretches to the top of the frame, so 21 deg from the head of the comet, although it is very faint by then.

The image was taken from 2100m up on Mt. Teide and the conditions were excellent. I convinced myself that I could see the lower, brighter part of the tail with the naked eye as faint striations similar in brightness to the zodiacal light but this is probably uncertain.

I imaged the comet itself around 20 mins after sunset but it was much fainter than the night before. It looks as if the comet has suffered what Elon Musk would call a RUD.

Files associated with this observation

2024g3_20250120_1957_ndj.jpg (15.8 MB)

Like this image

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