Comet 10P Tempel 2 with dust trail
in the moring sky
6/15/26

 

            
 Here is an
            image of a cometary phenomenon so rare, I have only seen it once
            before decades ago with comet Encke. It is very difficult to
            capture well, I spent 2.5 hours alone on exposing this LRGB image
            from my backyard observatory in Payson. The color positive image
            on the left shows Comet Tempel 2 as a nice cyan colored fan with
            a stellar nucleus. But look carefully and you can also see the
            comet dusty debris trail cutting across the comet and spanning
            the image. This flattened tube of debris highlights the orbital
            path of the comet over time. On the right is a negative image
            with the contrast boosted for comparison. At this point, its
            is not known whether or not this feature will fade or become
            more obvious at perihelion, and experienced imagers will be keeping
            close tabs on this one.

            
-Comet: 10P / Tempel
            2

            -Date/Time Local: 6/14/26 12:59 am MST

            -FOV: 1.5d x 1.2d

            -Orientation: N up

            -Instrument: 10" f/3.8 Newt

            -Exposure: LRGB = 2.5h total

            -Camera: Atik 16200

            -Location: Payson,AZ

            
Select an image size for a larger view:

1400 x 1200
            


Lens:  Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2 
Camera: ASI2600 MC
Platform:  Ioptron GEM45
Exposure:  2.5h LRGB
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing  4/10, Transparency 4/10
Outside Temperature:  60F
Processing Tools:  Maxim DL, Photoshop CS2
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