Yucca Valley/CA, another last-minute rush to site [ Comet T-A, Oct 15/2024 Wed ]

ANOTHER rush -- packing stuff, left at 3pm. Picked up chicken sandwich at KFC, then delivered letter at USPS office, got gas, got on 210 fwy ~4pm. 2.5 hrs to Yucca Valley/CA, would get me just as sun sets (~6:20pm). LOTS of bottlenecks along 210 until San Bernardino, then fast to Hwy 62 to 29 Palms/Yucca Valley

Made left onto Hwy 247, took left (going west) at Skyline Ranch Rd. Ran into private-property gate..!! Backtracked, went north on Redding Dr. Stopped along a pullout (next to house). Unloaded stuff quickly, luckily found a nice scenic spot with Joshua Trees in foreground

Setup time-lapse cameras -- GX85 (50-140 zoom) & GH4 (12-32 zoom). Then, used Canon 5D2 + 80-200/2.8 zoom for pics: 80mm, 135mm, 200mm. Then, used another Canon 5D2 + 50mm/1.4 for select shots. Also, shot 3 frame panorama.

Quit shooting at ~8:30pm.

Found myself next to friend's house, then went back to Yucca Valley to Carl's Jr -- got 3-piece Chicken Tenders & charged up batteries. Also, quickly surfed Web to check FB "Comet Watch". They closed at 11pm, so drove to Starbucks & camped overnight. They openede early at 4:30 am. I slept until 7am, then went into to edit photos, do time-lapse. Uploaded to Web, finished at 1:30pm .. !!!

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10161957227215960&set=gm.2276528882517561&idorvanity=123943134442824

https://vimeo.com/1020273668?fbclid=IwY2xjawF89ZJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRz_Hy1rfNyrWaIDz2TxcTgajp8ewMNbbXdnP6vzcpLZED8G6mAArz1ZDw_aem_vembO3ioYO_qGEYSs56uQA

https://vimeo.com/1020272989?fbclid=IwY2xjawF89bFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdDbi1fYP3uI_bGGhCnGrN0u8epqMGh296-0RZj4nMCMURwRFgi4R1E1fw_aem_oswsL_wKZ7uzWPkCsMSQGA

Now, off to Walmart to buy mattress, towel, pillow -- to take a much needed nap

Also, get some Ranch dressing at Aldi's (across street from Starbucks)

Then, off to search for a good site..

Mt Wilson turnout, off Hwy 2 (Angeles Crest Hwy) [ Comet T-A, Oct 14/Mon 2024 ]

Super rush packing, got everything together, sped to Angeles Crest Hwy (Hwy 2). Sunset in west, looking for clear western horizon. 2 turnoffs didn't have enough western horizon, could see moon rising in East

Finally, found a turnout -- small group of people walking in from a ridge. Luckily,it had JUST enough west horizon. Caught comet setting into a slope

ABSOLUTELY could not find it naked eye, or in 10x40 binos. Finally, did a test exposure with 50mm lens -- Venus on left part of frame.. Luckly, comet showed up on right side of frame..!!

Scrambled with 80-200/4 zoom, tripod-mounted shots at various focal lengths:

135mm:

200mm: