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°
The SpaceWeather site had a note that Comet 220P/McNaught had a 2nd outburst and brightened ca. 600-fold on 05-August. Based on the RA/Dec coordinates (02h 46m 51s; +09° 32′ 31″) from Stellarium, the comet would be visible by 03:00. ClearDarkSky forecasted good viewing conditions. I programed the comet’s position into the Vaonis Singularity application as a manual target. A little after 03:00 the sky was clear and I had the Vespera telescopes observe comet 220P/McNaught. The comet was brighter and looked different than it did at my last observation (16-June-2026). The unedited SOOT (straight out of the telescope) jpg and 16-bit raw/tiff files are available in my PhotoShelter site.
Vespera 1
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 1 Telescope. Composite of 179 exposures (1790 sec). Image processed with Pixinsight with added astro grid.Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 1 Telescope. Composite of 67 exposures (670 sec). Straight out of the telescope image. (FOV 1.46° x 0.81°)
Vespera 2
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 2 Telescope. Composite of 139 exposures (1390 sec). Image processed with PixInsight (with added astro grid).Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 2 Telescope. Composite of 139 exposures (1390 sec). Straight out of the telescope image. FOV (2.23° x 1.15°)
Vespera 3
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 3 Telescope. Composite of 164 exposures (1640 sec). FOV (2.26° x 1.16°). Image processed with PixInsight (with added astro grid).Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera 3 Telescope. Composite of 164 exposures (1640 sec). FOV (2.26° x 1.16°). Straight out of the camera image.
Vespera Pro 1
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro Telescope. Composite of 133 exposures (1330 sec). Straight out of the camera image. Image processed with PixInsight (with added astro grid). FOV (1.4° x 1.4°).Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro Telescope. Composite of 133 exposures (1330 sec). Straight out of the camera image.
Vespera Pro 2
Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro 2 Telescope. Composite of 115 exposures (1550 sec). Image processed with PixInsight (added astro grid). FOV (1.4° x 1.4°)Comet 220P/McNaught viewed from my backyard with a Vespera Pro 2 Telescope. Composite of 115 exposures (1550 sec). Straight out of the telescope image.
I received a text notification from the folks at Vaonis that Comet C2025/A6 Lemmon would be visible in the early morning sky. I looked up the RA/Dec coordinates for the comet using Stellarium and programed them into targets for my Stellina, Vespera Classic, Vespera II, and Vespera Pro telescopes. The RA/Dec coordinates for 04:00 were 10h02m45s +41°05’14” which would be about 23° above the horizon to the northeast (near the big dipper). At 04:00 the comet was either blocked or just above the tree line. By 04:30 the comet could be observed by the telescopes.
Vespera Classic
The images are composites of 32 10-second images which is just over a 5-minute exposure. This exposure is long enough to see the comet tail. Longer exposures show movement of the comet head relative to the stars. The estimated magnitude of the comet is 13.1 (not yet visible to the unaided eye). The green color of the comet is due to diatomic carbon in the coma absorbing ultraviolet light and re-emitting it as green fluorescence. Note in three of the images a faint satellite trail is visible.
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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