After several cloudy and rainy days and nights, the ClearNightSky forecast looked good. I set up my Vespera telescopes to observe comet C220P/McNaught. I updated the comet coordinates (RA/Dec 02h 55m 24s, +09° 32′ 29″) as manual targets. Then set up overnight plans in Singularity for the Vespera telescopes to observe several other targets prior to comet 220P/McNaught. The first comet observation started at 03:00 then repeated every 20-30 minutes.
All of the telescopes were able to find and make several observations of the comet. The comet has a longer tail than it did on 10-August. It is brighter than the obsevations on 11-August, but the viewing conditions were not good that night.
The images below are not cropped. The images are processed with PixInsight or Sky Color Studio, and the straight out of the telescope (SOOT) 8-bit JPG reference. The 16-bit RAW/TIFF and cropped versions of the observation images are available on my PhotoShelter site.
Vespera 1
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 1 Telescope. Composite of 96 exposures (960 sec). Image processed with PixInsight (added astro grid). FOV 1.6° x 0.9°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 1 Telescope. Composite of 96 exposures (960 sec). Straight out of the telescope image. FOV 1.6° x 0.9°
Vespera 2
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 2 Telescope. Composite of 137 exposures (1370 sec). Processed with PixInsight (added astro grid). FOV 2.5° x 1.4°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 2 Telescope. Composite of 137 exposures (1370 sec). Sky Color Studio (B30, DeNoise90, C10). FOV 2.5° x 1.4°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 2 Telescope. Composite of 137 exposures (1370 sec). Straight out of the telescope image. FOV 2.5° x 1.4°
Vespera 3
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 3 Telescope. Composite of 127 exposures (1270 sec). Image processed with PixInsight (with astro grid). FOV 2.5° x 1.4°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 3 Telescope. Composite of 127 exposures (1270 sec). Sky Color Studio (DeNoise). FOV 2.5° x 1.4°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 3 Telescope. Composite of 127 exposures (1270 sec). Straight out of the telescope image. FOV 2.5° x 1.4°
Vespera Pro 1
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro Telescope. Composite of 135 exposures (1350 sec). Image processed with PixInsight. Added astro grid. FOV 1.6° x 1.6°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro Telescope. Composite of 135 exposures (1350 sec). Sky Color Studio (Black level, DeNoise, Vibrance, Saturation, Contrast). FOV 1.6° x 1.6°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro Telescope. Composite of 135 exposures (1350 sec). FOV 1.6° x 1.6°
Vespera Pro 2
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro 2 Telescope. Composite of 129 exposures (1290 sec). Image processed with PixInsight. Astro grid overlay. FOV 1.6° x 1.6°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro 2 Telescope. Composite of 129 exposures (1290 sec). Sky Color Studio (Black Level, DeNoise, Vibrance, Saturation, Contrast). FOV 1.6° x 1.6°Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro 2 Telescope. Composite of 129 exposures (1290 sec). Straight out of the telescope image. FOV 1.6° x 1.6°
I am a scientist by training (Eckerd College, BSc; Caltech, Ph.D.). I worked for 27 years as a Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry developing processes to manufacture medicines for human and animal health. I now spend my time as a photographer and world traveler. My interests include the natural world, wildlife, landscapes, sky, and seascapes, travel, and astrophotography. I look for unique ways of viewing the world and presenting my images. I have traveled to over 55 countries in six continents, often on Semester at Sea voyages. While at home in New Jersey, I spend time observing and photographing the plants and animals while expanding a wildflower garden/meadow in the backyard. When the sky is clear, I have telescopes viewing the night sky.
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