Comet Photo

Comet Holmes [ Anza Borrego/Arroyo Salado 11/14 ]

2007-11-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

I'm blogging from Anza Borrego/Arroyo Salado, after traveling here from Baja Mexico (Jamau).

As in Jamau (11/12 & 11/13), the comet has lost its wildly dynamic ion tail. However, in 10x50 binoculars it's size is increased noticeaboy ("big fuzzball") & you can discern the nucleus (!).

Saw a nice Leonid mag 1 meteor @12:45am which left a persistent trail (Leo was 10 deg up in the east).

Night was balmy, around 65 deg, I was practically in short sleeves. Reminds me of the Leonid Metoer Shower in '98 (where I observed from this location). Arrived here @10pm pretty exhausted & spent the whole night photographing until dawn.

5" f8 APO (Astrophysics), 15s Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

5" f8 APO (Astrophysics), 60s Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

5" f8 APO (Astrophysics), 90s Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

5" f8 APO (Astrophysics), 120s Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

610mm f6 APO (Astrophysics), 10m Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

450mm f4.5 APO (Astrophysics), 5m Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

Nikon 300mm/2.8 (4), 4m Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

Canon 100mm/2.8 (4), 4m Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

Canon 50mm/2.8 (4), 4m Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

Canon 15mm/2.8 (4), 4m Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

Canon 15mm/2.8 (4), 4m Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

Canon 15mm/2.8 (4), 2m Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

Canon 15mm/2.8 (4), 30s Canon 20D (ASA 1600)

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equipment photos

Comet Holmes [ Jamau, Baja/Mexico 11/13-14 ]

2007-11-14T12:44:00.000-08:00

I'm blogging from Jamau (Baja Mexico) after a night-session photographing Comet Holmes.

[ I'm here for the 40th anniversary of the Baja 1000, so I'm doing 2 things at once. Armin Schwarz (famous German rally-racer is racing. See here for LiveWebCast & iTunes video-podcast of the race ]

The photos are not showing the ion tail like last week. In the telescope eyepiece, the coma is very diffuse (more than last week).

610mm f6, 10m (ASA 1600) Canon 20D

450mm f4.5, 5 m (ASA 1600) Canon 20D

Nikokn 300mm/2.8, 4 min (ASA 800) Canon 20D

15mm/2.8 (4), 30s (ASA 1600) Canon 20D

610mm f6, 2 min (ASA 1600) Canon 20D

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equipment pictures

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Nature piccs

Comet Holmes [ Hungry Valley/CA, 11/7 ]

2007-11-09T07:09:00.001-08:00

many meteors observed from 12pm - 5am

4:25am mag 1 meteor (slow), away from Auriga towards NE
4:29am mag -3 meteor, away from Auriga towards SW
4:33am mag -3 meteor, reddish nucleus w/persistent trail (slow moving)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
TP2415 hypered by Martin Germano

8" f1.5 Schmidt-Camera (300mm), hypered TP2415 4m

8" f1.5 Schmidt-Camera (300mm), hypered TP2415 4m (crop)

8" f1.5 Schmidt-Camera (300mm), hypered TP2415 4m (crop) [ equalized image ]

AP 610mm f6, 10m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

AP 450mm f4.5, 5m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

Canon 300mm/2.8(4) 4m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

Canon 200mm/2.8(4) 4m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

Canon 100mm/2.8(4) 4m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

Canon 100mm/2.8(4) 4m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

Canon 50mm/1.4(4) 4m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

Canon 15mm/2.8(4) 4m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

Canon 15mm/2.8(4) 4m [ Canon 20D ASA 1600 ]

AP 1030mm f8, 2m [ Canon 20D ASA 800]

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new observation site photos

Comet Homes [ Hungry Valley/CA, 11/5/07 ]

2007-11-07T20:53:00.002-08:00

many meteors observed
tested out various astrographs

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
TP2415 hypered by Martin Germano

8" f1.5 Schmidt Camera, 4m on hypered TP2415

8" f1.5 Schmidt Camera, 4m on hypered TP2415 (image equalization)

AP 610mm f6 10m ASA 1600

AP 450mm f4.5 5m ASA 1600

Nikon 300mm/2.8 4m ASA 800

Canon 200mm/2.8 4m ASA 800

Canon 100mm/2.8 4m ASA 800

Canon 50mm/1.4(2.8) 4m ASA 800

Canon 15mm/2.8 4m ASA 800

Comet Holmes, 200mm/2.8 lens [ Afton Canyon 11/1 ]

2007-11-02T02:57:00.000-07:00

4 min (ASA 800)

Comet Holmes, 50mm/1.4 (2.8) lens [ Afton Canyon 11/1 ]

2007-11-02T02:55:00.001-07:00

4 min (ASA 800)

Comet Holmes, 100mm/2.8 lens [ Afton Canyon 11/1 ]

2007-11-02T02:45:00.000-07:00

4 min (ASA 800)

Comet Holmes, Astrophysics 5" f8 APO refractor [ Afton Canyon 11/1 ]

2007-11-02T02:43:00.001-07:00

8 min (ASA 800)

30 s (ASA 200)

Comet Holmes [ Afton Canyon 11/1 ]

2007-11-02T01:55:00.001-07:00

post astrophoto-session, blogging over mobile satellite-DSL

artifact on right side, AP 610mm f6 (also with .75 TC)

2007-10-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

AP 610mm f6 (no field flattener), using photo-adapter with Canon EOS T-ring [ shot on 11/5 ]

AP 610mm f6 (with .75 Telecompressor), using photo-adapter with Canon EOS T-ring [ shot on 11/5 ]

Canon 200mm/2.8 (4) [ shot on 11/7 ]

Nikon 300mm/2.8 (4) [ shot on 11/7 ]

I am getting strange artifacts on right side when shooting with Astrophysics 610mm f6 (& 450mm f4.5), Canon 200mm/2.8 (stopped to f4), Nikon 300mm/2,8 (stopped to f4)

In both of the images (610mm f6 & 450mm f4.5) the artifacts are the SAME size & SAME location. The one on the bottom-right corner seems to be a "clipped donut". The one on the top-right corner seems to be a "clipped circle" (possibly a donut).

WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?
[ something in the Canon 20D lightbox..an internal reflection? ]

The fact that the SAME artifact (size & location) appears in Canon 200mm/2.8 & Nikon 300mm/2.8 shots implies it's something in the Canon 20D lightbox.

There is also some vignetting on the bottom part of the frame of the AP 610mm & AP 450mm shots. I believe this is the bottom part of the Canon 20D lightbox that is doing this.

[ I noticed the same thing when using Pentax 6x7 with the 6100mm f6 (w/field flattener). I believe the bottom of the P6x7 light box is causing the "vignetting/clipping". ]