C2020F3_20200720
Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)
Comet NEOWISE became a worldwide sensation when it unexpectedly achieved naked-eye visibility in early July, making it the brightest northern comet since the Great Comet of 1997, Hale-Bopp.
On this date, NEOWISE was still putting on a great show, especially since it was finally high enough to see in the night sky. The ion tail was about 15 degrees long, or 30 times the size of the full moon.
This highly anticipated clear night ended up being a huge disappointment for me. After just 21 minutes of shooting, a thunderstorm popped up and ruined my night. And thanks to passing clouds, only 11 out of the 21 frames were useful. The result is still decent, and it was unbelievable to see a comet and its dust tail with my naked eye for the first time.
Apparent magnitude: 3.25 (estimate from Stellarium)
Distance from Earth: 0.705 AU
Orbital period: 6,953 years
Velocity (relative to Sun): 35 mile/s (56 km/s)
Total integration: 11 minutes
11 x 60 seconds ISO200 f/2.8
Location: Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge near Parkland, FL
SQM: 19.20 mag/arcsec^2 (Bortle 6)
Camera: Canon T3i (stock/unmodified)
Average camera temperature: 104 F (40 C)
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G (unguided)
Processing software: PixInsight, Paint.NET
C2020F3_20200720
Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)
Comet NEOWISE became a worldwide sensation when it unexpectedly achieved naked-eye visibility in early July, making it the brightest northern comet since the Great Comet of 1997, Hale-Bopp.
On this date, NEOWISE was still putting on a great show, especially since it was finally high enough to see in the night sky. The ion tail was about 15 degrees long, or 30 times the size of the full moon.
This highly anticipated clear night ended up being a huge disappointment for me. After just 21 minutes of shooting, a thunderstorm popped up and ruined my night. And thanks to passing clouds, only 11 out of the 21 frames were useful. The result is still decent, and it was unbelievable to see a comet and its dust tail with my naked eye for the first time.
Apparent magnitude: 3.25 (estimate from Stellarium)
Distance from Earth: 0.705 AU
Orbital period: 6,953 years
Velocity (relative to Sun): 35 mile/s (56 km/s)
Total integration: 11 minutes
11 x 60 seconds ISO200 f/2.8
Location: Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge near Parkland, FL
SQM: 19.20 mag/arcsec^2 (Bortle 6)
Camera: Canon T3i (stock/unmodified)
Average camera temperature: 104 F (40 C)
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G (unguided)
Processing software: PixInsight, Paint.NET