Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

 

The Oort Cloud comet, called C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, was discovered in 2023, approaching the inner solar system on its highly elliptical orbit for the first time in documented human history. It was identified by observers at China’s Tsuchinshan – or “Purple Mountain” – Observatory and an ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) telescope in South Africa. The comet was officially named in honor of both observatories. New photos of comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS appear to show a faint "anti-tail" pointing away in the wrong direction. The puzzling extra limb is the result of a rare illusion that is only possible when our planet is in a certain position.

Imaging Lens: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L 

Tripod: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head

Camera: Canon EOS 450d

Date: 15 Oct 2024 

Location: Agios Stefanos, Attiki, Greece

Exposure Time: 

6x4 sec ISO 400 

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

Imaging Telescope: Vixen VC200L f/6.4

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod)

Camera: QHY 533M

Guiding camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini (mono)

Guidescope: SkyWatcher EvoGuide 50ED

Filters: LRGB

Date: October 25, 2024

Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory 1

Exposure Time:

L: 6x30 sec (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

R: 6x30 sec (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

G: 6x30 sec (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

B: 6x30 sec (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats, Dark Flats

Acquisition: N.I.N.A

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

 

67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (abbreviated as 67P or 67P/C–G) is a Jupiter-family comet, originally from the Kuiper belt, with a current orbital period of 6.45 years, a rotation period of approximately 12.4 hours and a maximum velocity of 135,000 km/h (38 km/s; 84,000 mph). Churyumov–Gerasimenko is approximately 4.3 by 4.1 km (2.7 by 2.5 mi) at its longest and widest dimensions. It was first observed on photographic plates in 1969 by Soviet astronomers Klim Ivanovych Churyumov and Svetlana Ivanovna Gerasimenko, after whom it is named. It most recently came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 2 November 2021, and will return in April 2028.

Optics: Vixen ED81s @ f/5.2
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro
Guiding: SBIG ST2000XM ST4
Camera: SBIG ST2000XM
Filter Wheel: SBIG CFW9
Filters: Astronomik L
CCD Temperature: 0 degrees Celsius
Constellation: Pegasus
Date: Jan 1, 2022
Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory I
Exposure:
Lum: 10x2 min bin 1x1
Calibration: Darks, Flats, Bias

Comet C/2020 F3 (Neowise)

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) or Comet NEOWISE is a long period comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered on March 27, 2020, by astronomers during the NEOWISE mission of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope. At that time, it was an 18th-magnitude object, located 2 AU (300 million km; 190 million mi) away from the Sun and 1.7 AU (250 million km; 160 million mi) away from Earth.

NEOWISE is known for being the brightest comet in the northern hemisphere since Comet Hale–Bopp in 1997. It was widely photographed by professional and amateur observers and was even spotted by people living near city centres and areas with light pollution. While it was too close to the Sun to be observed at perihelion, it emerged from perihelion around magnitude 0.5 to 1, making it bright enough to be visible to the naked eye. Under dark skies, it can be seen with the naked eye and might remain visible to the naked eye throughout most of July 2020. As of July 28, the comet was about magnitude 4.5, but binoculars are required near urban areas to locate the comet. The comet is getting further from the Sun and Earth, and a brightening waxing gibbous Moon is interfering with dark skies.

Here you can see some images of Comet Neowise from my observatory

Optics: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod)

Camera: Canon EOS 450D

Constellation: Ursa Major

Date: July 26, 2020

Location: Albireo Observatory (Korinthos, Greece) 

Exposure: 5x30 sec

Calibration: Darks, Flats, Bias

Optics: Vixen ED 81s

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod)

Camera: SBIG ST2000xm

Constellation: Ursa Major

Date: July 25, 2020

Location: Albireo Observatory (Korinthos, Greece) 

Exposure: 1x120 sec, L filter

Calibration: Darks, Flats, Bias