A friend, Carol Botha took this amazing image of the comet last night (Jan 17th) from Bloubergstrand just to the north of Cape Town. She has given me permission to post it here.
I have not seen the comet yet. Clouds, clouds, clouds!. But I believe that the view from here is absolutely amazing.

Phil

Attached Images

Carol_komeet.jpg (28.6 KB, 86 views)

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Carol used a Canon EOS 300D digital camera with an ISO of 400 and a shutter speed of 3.5 seconds.

Phil

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Beautiful shot!. Thanks for sharing

Great shot! The curve to the tail is getting really pronounced now. Pass on our thanks please.

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Hi Phil

Your friend has a good eye. That has to be one of the best yet. You are right, the comet looks to be longer and brighter and clearer down your way. Nice job.

Paul

more from 17.01.07

Simply amazing

Attached Images

	Comet perth (Large).JPG (42.6 KB, 30 views)
	Mcnuaght perth (Large).JPG (38.0 KB, 27 views)

Here are two sites with glorious images of Table Mountain and Cape Town at night with the comet slowly setting over Table Mountain.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrogecko/
http://www.saao.ac.za/~sbp/comet.html

Enjoy.

Phil

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Hi Phil - thanks for posting Carol's photo. Man, what a display nature is putting on for the Southern Hemisphere! I am SOOOO jealous! I haven't seen anything posted from north of the Equator with this much beauty. Certainly not from Southern California. Maybe I just haven't looked in the right places.

I've got a question for you. With your Dob setup and imaging abilities afocally, will you be able to get the Comet and all of its tail in one image? I'm anxiously awaiting to see what you can do from your home!

Clear skies (yeah, I know, hopefully soon!!!)

Paul

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Hi Paul,

We have clouds and more clouds!! I have not seen the comet yet.
I doubt very much if I will get the entire comet in the FOV of my DOB. The tail is far too long. I think Carol's method with a camera without a telescope is the answer. Of course, if I manage to get the head of the comet in the telescope's view, it would make a spectacular image.
Here's to hoping that the weather will clear so that I can join in the fun.

Phil

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Hi Phil

Thoses photos of comet McNaught from Cape Town are awesome.
I agree with Paul, this comet looks so much better down your way. I hope the clouds move on so you to can enjoy this wondrous site. Paul

Very nice comet images from you all. Unfortunately we have been living with smoke hazy skies from the massive bushfires both here and in Victoria since last October. Lack of rain in increasing temps over the past decade. We have many bright sunny days, no rain, but when the sun goes down the smoke haze and sea clouds roll in to obscure our skies.

Here are a couple of comet shots, the first in bright full sun hours before sunset, then two days later through smoke haze-low cloud.
Here is a link to my comet images.

http://picasaweb.google.com/AstroTasmania


Hoping for some clear skies

Shevill

Attached Images

	Comet-Daylight-14 Jan-Web.jpg (71.1 KB, 8 views)
	Smoky Comet_028.JPG (34.4 KB, 7 views)
	_DSC0036.JPG (71.3 KB, 9 views)

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Shevill Mathers, Southern Cross Observatory - Tasmania 42 South.
Associate Editor 'Sky and Space' Magazine Est.1988.
http://www.astrotasmania.com-a.googlepages.com/home

That...Is...One...BRIGHT...Comet...

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Hi Shevill

Your collection of this comet is just great. Thanks.

Paul

This photo was taken tonight with a Panasonic Lumix FX01. It's a 30 sec exposure. The comet tail is amazing. We've had a great show by the comet the past few nights. The weather has been very good.

Attached Images

comet-Mcnaught.JPG (84.4 KB, 23 views)

Very nice image, you lucky fellow, still cloud bound in Tasmania.

Noticed in recent images that the tail is ? breaking up. Looks very impressive though.

Clear skies...

Shevill

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Shevill Mathers, Southern Cross Observatory - Tasmania 42 South.
Associate Editor 'Sky and Space' Magazine Est.1988.
http://www.astrotasmania.com-a.googlepages.com/home

Yes, we've had great weather. And being high on a mountain top also helps. We will see what happens tomorrow night, hopefully we will be lucky again.

Finally!!! I saw it last night after nights of cloudy weather!. What a sight! It now has an enormous tail which fans out beautifully.
Phil

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Paul, I hope you do not mind but I have taken the liberty to adjust the contrast and brightness of one of your images and then cleaned up the high frequency noise with Noiseware.
The tail now shows up nicely.
Thanks for these amazing images.

Phil

Attached Images

JPKotze_b_filtered.jpg (17.7 KB, 14 views)

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Thanks, it looks much better. Do you know of any software that I can use that runs in linux? I'm not a windows user.
No viewing of the comet tonight, it was cloudy...

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JPK

Hi JP,
I have no idea. Maybe one of the other members of the forum are able to help out here.
I am glad you liked my attempt.

Phil

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