Its been quite a while since I posted, too busy with the necessary things in life, however, at the beginning of Feb I did get some shots of McNaught as it fades from easy naked eye view. A rising full Moon made for some interesting shots but it washed out the comets tail structure.

These shots are looking over Ralphs Bay, Hobart is on the other side of the Derwent towards the right. Ralphs Bay is an important site for migratory seabirds, it is a 15-minute drive from home and a favourite spot for my seascape & wildlife photography.

Nikon D200 with 10.5mm f/2.8 fisheye and 28mm f/2.8 30 seconds at 350 ISO.

Attached Images

	2nd Feb.JPG (74.2 KB, 33 views)
	2nd Feb-close-up .jpg (139.5 KB, 42 views)
	3rd Feb.JPG (58.4 KB, 34 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

Hi Shevill

You have a nice spot there for taking Sunset, wildlife and comets. Your photos are very nice. If its ok with you I would like to add them to my collection. Paul

Very nice indeed of this special comet, well done Shevill Clear Skies

Thank you for your kind comments. Yes, we do indeed live in an island paradise compared to so many parts of the world.

Paul, by all means, add them to your collection.

Here is a link to other comet shots as well as local scenery and Ralphs Bay in daylight.

http://picasaweb.google.com/AstroTasmania

http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story...99-921,00.html

Also a link to another rare astro (Aurora / landscape shot).
http://www.bautforum.com/showthread....495#post921495

Clear skies...

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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

Shevill,

Very beautiful panorama shot, Great work!

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Best Regards,
John Chumack
The Chumack Observatories
MPC 838 Dayton Research Station
MPC H66 Yellow Springs Research Station
www.galacticimages.com

...very nice images Shevill!
best regards from Austria,
Dietmar

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best regards,
Dietmar
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www.stargazer-observatory.com

Thank you all for such nice comments.

Here is a link to 6 daylight images as postcards, image no 5 is one of mine in a different light. This bay is a crucial area of environmental significance, mainland developers want to turn it into a 600 home, land marina development, can you believe it?

Here is a link to a set of scenic images of this area, card No 5 is one of my daytime shots;
http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/RB_Cards_V4.pdf

Enjoy...

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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

Wow!
Those are some stunning images! I really like the southern Milkey Way image. Your really lucky to be living were your living, it seems like a really good place for observing!

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Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the prospect is staggering!

It was a bit more than luck, I left the dark, cloudy, gloomy skies of England with its long winters, snow, rain & smog.

Tasmania is very much like England without all of the above, other than the regular hazards of big forest fires.

As you may have noticed, I see stars right down to the horizon, not just down to 45 degrees as in the above. I get a lot of your fellow countrymen here as visitors to my observatory & to see the southern Milky Way.

Clear skies... and thank you for your kind comments.

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