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This 5th
magnitude object lies only a few degrees above the distant north
eastern horizon for much of June. Here you can see the brilliant
1st magnitude star Capella near the bottom of this frame, dimmed
and yellowed significantly by the horizon dust extinction band.
Just above, is the emerald green head of the new comet with a
bluish ion tail extending at least three degrees nearly straight
up, and a greenish dust fan pointing to the upper right very
close to the central coma. There is obviously some ices following
the normally yellow dust component out from the central condensation
to create the coloration.
A slightly tilted
horizontal green band cuts through this image. This is a common
feature in my shots from Payson, our high altitude and dark northern
skies often reveal this cousin to the Aurora, the earths faint
and stratified air glow component of the uppermost atmosphere.
The comet was so
low on the horizon, that you can see I could only image this
apparition within a narrow notch in the tall pine trees and it
was through careful placement of the mount on our balcony on
the second story of our home that I could even see this object.
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