Comet ISON in the Morning Sky September 16, 2013

Uploaded 9/18/13

 Currently at mag 12.5, this brightening comet is on its way in to the inner solar system, for a very close encounter with the Sun on November 25th. The maximum brightness is questionable at this time, some predict naked eye brightness, others around magnitude 8 which is probably more realistic until perihelion.

The comet is very low in the east right now, barely clearing the trees and east wall of the observatory in Payson. When I started this exposure, half the aperture was occulted by the wall. Sunrise was coming and we continued shooting until just past 5am, where the sky becomes too bright from twilight.

Select an image size for a larger view: Field of view is 1 degree wide here. 1290 x 960 1600 x 1200
Select an image size for a larger view mapped color to show tail details. 800 x 600 1290 x 960
Lens: 12.5" f/5 Home bult Newtonian Platform: Astrophysics AP1200 Exposure: 25m Location: Payson, Arizona Elevation: 5150 ft. Sky: Seeing 7/10, Transparency 7/10 Outside Temperature: 55F Processing Tools: Maxim DL, Photoshop CS2 HOME GALAXIES EMISSION NEBS REFLECTION NEBS COMETS GLOBULARS OPEN CLUST PLANETARIES LINKS