Comet Panstarrs C/2011 L4
Comet in Western sky at sunset
For Saturday March 30, 2013

Uploaded 3/31/13

 
 The
            first day in weeks for a clear sunset, but most of the day was
            dark clouds and stiff winds. A sudden sunset clearing and I made
            my last trip to the hill across from the airport for a shot with
            the portable mount and Stellarvue SV80s and DSLR. The comet is
            now magnitude 3.5 and has not gained any altitude in the sunset
            sky. Very low, 5 or 6 degrees for these images, which are very
            yellow and obscured from the horizon extinction band. 
 

            
Sun Pillar at sunset.  
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Stack of 6 frames, 30 seconds each
showing a dim comet, with very little detail
in the tail.
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Stretched version which shows a broad
fan to the left of the head.
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Lens:  80mm f/4.6 Stellarfvue / Zeiss APO
Platform:  Televue GEM
Exposure:  30 seconds x 6
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing  7/10, Transparency 5/10
Outside Temperature:  45F
Processing Tools:  Maxim DSLR, Photoshop CS2
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