On December 16, Comet 46P/Wirtanen will reach its closest point to Earth, making it visible to the naked eye. Observers have reported challenges in imaging due to equipment issues, specifically using the wrong scope mount drive controller, which affected tracking capabilities. Despite these challenges, imaging attempts were made using a Canon 6D with settings of 10 seconds at f/2.8 and ISO 6400, resulting in some trailing due to short exposures. The comet features a large coma comparable to the size of a full moon, although its overall surface brightness remains low.
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Hi Jim ... several days ago I posted in the "our beautiful Universe thread, photo and star maps for the cometjim mcnamara said:
you may have missed itcheersdavenn said:Went out last nite, 7th Dec, for the first serious observing/imaging session for a long time.
Was very disappointed, when I got to site after a long drive, that I discovered that I had grabbed the wrong scope mount drive controller.
The controllers are the same except one has a 8 pin RJ connector and the other has a 6 pin RJ connector
The scope mount I took has the 6 pin and the controller I took has the 8 pin
As a result I had no tracking ability for my imaging
I had to keep exposures short but at the focal lengths being used, there is still some trailing.
Did some serious pushing of ISO settings to compensate a bit for the short exposures
Comet 46P/Wirtanen ... a comet with a large coma ( gas/dust halo) the size of a full moon, but the overall surface brightness is
reasonably low
10sec @ f2.8, ISO 6400, 200mm focal length ( 70 - 200mm zoom) on a Canon 6D
View attachment 235378Large Magellanic Cloud
5sec @ f2.8, ISO 25600, 200mm focal length ( 70 - 200mm zoom) on a Canon 6D
View attachment 235379
cheers
Dave
