Sprites

Hello SS Just lucky to get a brief gap in the cloud cover. Only managed 2 shots near Mars, not enough to stack. The thin cloud acted as a starglow filter on Mars. It should be clear when the comet is in Taurus. After that it's likely a target for tracking mounts as it fades.

Thanks Arnie Last night was forecast cloudy, there were a few low clouds and clear above those. But overall not enough gaps. Monday/Tuesday is forecast clear intervals. This photo was from Thursday

Heading towards Mars Clouds spoilt the view tonight 10-2-2023

Hi Arnie The sensor moves to compensate for star trailing. That feature is good for a quick setup, but won't beat a proper tracking mount. I've never got the claimed 2-3 minute exposures for wider lenses. Unless your in a Bortle 2 or 3, it would just blow out the photo anyway. It's still a good gadget for getting started in astrophotography. I could see the comet through binoculars last night, it's faded quite a bit though. I hope we get some clear skies again soon.

I think there are Canon forums, you could try asking on there.

Hello Arnie Yes they are both single shots, The iso was 6400, I haven't stacked those yet. I use an Astrotracer which is a GPS unit that fits onto the hotshoe. Amazon.co.uk WWW.AMAZON.CO.UK The GPS unit can be temperamental depends on location. It seems to work ok up to 20 seconds at 300mm on K70 and K5 cameras. Obviously only works on Pentax cameras, I used Pentax years ago before this GPS was around, so I've stuck with that system. I take the photo and then edit it in camera converting it from RAW to jpg. Then I send the JPG to my phone with image synk app. On my phone I have Polish photo editor and Snapseed. Snapseed can also edit RAW. Its quite a lazy way to do it. And it's not as good as using better noise reduction stacking etc. Also if you have alot of light pollution it's not so easy with single exposures. It's about Bortle 6 in town , and about 5 nearby. I took all these from my garden. The Comet was almost overhead when I took them about 6.45pm yesterday. Cloud is now arriving from the NW.

Both 20 second exp iso 6400 The seeing was poor tonight even before moonrise it was hazy. Comet E3 ZTF Trying to find Comet C/2022 U2 atlas near ZETA , but can't pick it out amongst all that....

A couple more from yesterday evening 6-2-23 Not quite up to the photo from Michael Jaeger I knew C/2020 U2 atlas was nearby earlier. Michael Jaeger is one of the best comet photographers around https://spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=192424

Clearish sky early hours 2am got this shot with Capella And this evening 18.30 before the clouds arrived. Single 10 second shot iso 3200 at 210mm Edited on pixel 4a

Yes the full moon is not helping untill the 8th. The comet will be fading but still worth a go with Mars etc. Here's a stack of 10 x 20 seconds ISO 6400 in DSS. I've forgot how to use the comet stack settings. The stars are odd colours, it's not great. I used Rawtherepee 5.9 , haven't used it for ages.

From 30-1-23 moon about 70% Single exposure 20 seconds ISO 3200, 300mm May try stacking a few of these

29-1-23 9pm I could see the Comet with binoculars despite the 60% moon. I took this with my pixel 4a phone on a tripod earlier tonight. Clouded up now.

By the time the cloud clears around here, it will be less bright. Recently it's about Mag 4.6 SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids WWW.SPACEWEATHER.COM

Dorset has some quite dark skies at Bortle 4. Here it's 5+ in town, or 4 about 10 miles from the town. I've taken all my Comet photos from home. Not too many clear nights in the forecast. Might have to wait until February when the Comet passes Mars and Taurus.

That's a good one What settings did you have a tracking mount?

Quick shot from 01.45am, was already up so checked the weather, didn't expect any clear skies. It's hazy and humid -3C found the comet easily in binoculars. Single shot 20 seconds ISO 12800 300mm f5.8

What started as a out 15 Starlings a month ago, has become about 500+. About 70% of them roost in this Holly tree PXL_20230123_164808056~2.mp4

Alot of cloud in the forecast for a week or so.

In Cassiopeia there's another Comet C/2020 V2. It's not so easy to photograph because it's less bright. Magnitude 10.5 in Stellarium. It may be good with the Star Adventurer and stacking. I got a photo with 10 seconds at ISO 6400 and 12800 + 300mm lens.

In February it tracks by Mars and Taurus. Depends what weather we have at the time...

@Southern Storm That's a good capture I had binoculars on my tripod earlier, those two stars in the bottom right of your photo I remember seeing those, and the comet was a light patch slightly elongated. I took a few more shots about 4.30am , seems like a cloudy week coming up.

Tail showing nicely What ISO was it ? Samyang or Rokinon lens?

A stack of 30 shots from early January, the moon was at 90 %

Had a look this morning at 4am, just before it clouded up. Quite easy to find with a short exposure it's below the handle of the plough ATM I was able to see it with 10x50 bins. 10 seconds at 300m ISO 6400 using Pentax astrotracer.

Last Friday I got a widefield view of the comet. It's hard to see in this view. It was also hazy and a few clouds around. 4am today I tried again, but cloud moved in so just one 10 seconds exposure with a 55-300 zoom at 170mm.