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Comet
Schwassmann - Wachmann 3/73P
Fragmenting
Comet in Hercules
Uploaded
4/30/06
This is certainly the first
time I have ever recorded TWO separate comets in the same image.
First, the left panel image is the original C fragment, now about
7th magnitude and sporting a stunning dust tail. The star on
the right edge is one of the Hercules Keystone stars - Zeta Herculis.
The right panel is more interesting, in that on the left (enlarged
in the inset) is the tiny G fragment, bearing a short tail. The
bright comet in this image is of course the B fragment, once
part of the C fragment and making the comet whole. The B fragment
is currently pretty stable and has not had a large piece break
off for a few days. |
Close up images of above:
Instrument: Stellarvue SV80s with TR2008 Focal Reducer/FF
Platform: Astrophysics 1200 QMD
CCD Camera: Canon 10D unmodified
Guider: SBIG ST4
Exposure: 3x5m each to avoid trailing of comet against stars
Location: Payson, Arizona
Elevation: 5150 ft.
Sky: 8, Transparency 8/10
Outside Temperature: 45 F
Processing Tools: Maxim DL, Photoshop, PixInsight
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