David's Astronomy Pages (Solar System)
Comets - 2009

Comet Images (2009) This page summarises observations and images of comets in 2009
Bullet 144P/Kushida (Nov 2008-Mar 2009)
Bullet C/2007 N3 (Lulin) (Feb-Apr)
Bullet C/2009 T2 (Cardinal) (Mar)
Bullet 116P/Wild (Feb-May)
Bullet C/2009 F6 (Yi-SWAN) (Apr-May)
Bullet C/2006 Q1 (McNaught) (May)
Bullet C/2006 W3 (Christensen) (Jun-Nov)
Bullet 22/P Kopff (Jul-Sep)

Comet 144P/Kushida -  (Nov/Dec)

144P/Kushida - 2008-11-25
(passing through starfield in Aries)

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
3 x 180s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2008-11-25 23:42 h UT (#325267-69)
 

144P/Kushida - detail 

Image

CCD Image (150% size,cropped)
3 x 180s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2006-11-25 23:42 h UT (#325267-69)
 

144P/Kushida - 2008-11-27

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
3 x 120s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2008-11-27 23:42 h UT (#326084-86)
 

144P/Kushida - 2008-12-01

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
3 x 120s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2008-12-01 20:53 h UT (#329002-04)
 

 

144P/Kushida 
(passing through starfield in Taurus)

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
3 x 120s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-01  21:00 h UT (#352121-23)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7e 

   

Previous image of 144P/Kushida - 2008-01-02
(passing through starfield in Taurus)

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
3 x 120s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-01-02 20:59 h UT (#337045-47)

 

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C/2007 N3 (Lulin) - (Feb-Apr)


C/2007 N3 (Lulin)  
Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale)
30s sec exposure, 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-03-09 21:08 h UT (#356006)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.8) + ST-10XME

C/2007 N3 (Lulin)  

C/2007 N3 (Lulin) - 
animation showing movement over 48 minute period

Detail, 2009-03-04
Image Image
Animated CCD Image
30s sec exposure,  2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-02-25 22:00 to 22:48 h UT to (#350084-164)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
Approximate Colour CCD Image
Red: 3x20s (R), Green: 3x20s (V), Blue: 3x30s (B)
2009-02-25 23:12 h UT to (#350181-89)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 

C/2007 N3 (Lulin)  - Log Scale images
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-03-04 Detail, 2009-03-04
Image Image
Annotated CCD Image (Log Scale)
Inverse Specturn
15 x 20s sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 
2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-04 20:09 h UT (#354058-72)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
False Colour CCD Image (Log Scale)
Image details as left
 

C/2007 N3 (Lulin) - Sequence   2009-02-25 to 2009-03-05
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-02-25 Detail, 2009-02-25
 Image Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 
2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-02-25 21:53 h UT (#350081-83)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
False Colour CCD Image (Log Scale)
Inverse Specturn
30s sec exposure,  2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-02-25 21:52 h UT (#350081)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
 
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-02-27 Detail, 2009-02-27
 Image Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 
2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-02-27 22:39 h UT (#351003-05)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
False Colour CCD Image (Log Scale)
Inverse Specturn
30s sec exposure,  2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-02-27 22:38 h UT (#351003)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
 
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-03-02 Detail, 2009-03-02
Image  Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 
2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-02 20:38 h UT (#353003-05)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7e 
False Colour CCD Image (Log Scale)
Inverse Specturn
30s sec exposure,  2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-02 20:38 h UT (#353003)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7e 
  
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-03-04 Detail, 2009-03-04
Image Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 
2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-04 20:05 h UT (#354055-57)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
False Colour CCD  Image (50% size)
Square Root brightness scaling & Isophote Contoured, 
False Colour (Inverse Spectrum). Details as Left
 
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-03-05 Detail, 2009-03-05
Image Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 
2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-05 20:27 h UT (#355028-30)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
False Colour CCD Image (Log Scale)
Inverse Specturn
30s sec exposure,  2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-05 20:27 h UT (#355028)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 
 
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-03-09 Detail, 2009-03-09
Image Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 
2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-09 21:09 h UT (#356006-08)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.8) + ST-10XME
False Colour CCD Image (Log Scale)
Inverse Specturn
30s sec exposure,  2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-09 21:08 h UT (#356006)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.8) + ST-10XME
 
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-03-17 Detail, 2009-03-17
Image Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale, cropped)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 
3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-03-17 00:39 h UT (#357083-85)
2" LX200R  (at f/5.8) + ST-10XME
False Colour CCD Image (Log Scale)
Inverse Specturn
30s sec exposure,  2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-17 00:39 h UT (#357083)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.6) + ST-10XME
 
C/2007 N3 (Lulin), 2009-04-19 Detail, 2009-04-19
Image Image
Annotated CCD Image (Cropped, Linear Scale)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-04-19 22:04 h UT (#363045-47)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
False Colour CCD Image (Log Scale)
Inverse Specturn
Image details as left
 

C/2007 N3 (Lulin) passing through starfield in Leo
Although frames covering the head are effected by motion of comet 
between frames, the tail of the comet is nicely visible, 

Image
 CCD Image Mosaic (40% size scaling)
90s sec exposures,2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-01 23:04 h UT (#352200-19)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7e   [negative ]

C/2007 N3 (Lulin) passing through starfield in Gemini (2009-03-21)

Image
CCD Image (Linear Scale)
5 x 90s sec exposure (median combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-03-21 21:52 h UT (#358043-47)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

C/2007 N3 (Lulin) passing through starfield in Gemini (2009-04-08)

Image
Annotated CCD Image (Cropped, Linear Scale)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-04-08 21:26 h UT (#362004-06)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

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C/2009 T2 (Cardinal) - (Mar)

C/2009 T2 (Cardinal) passing through starfield in Camelopardalis

Image

CCD Image (Linear Scale)
3 x 120s sec exposure (average combine)
2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-05 22:56 h UT (#355140-42)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7E 

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Comet 116P/Wild - (Mar-May)

116P/Wild, 2009-01-02

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
3 x 120s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-01-02 23:05 h UT (#337141-43)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/7.6) + ST-7e 

 

116P/Wild, 2009-03-01
(passing through starfield in Leo)

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
3 x 120s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-03-01 20:52 h UT (#352116-18)
8" LX200 Classic (at f/6.6) + ST-7e 

  

116P/Wild, 2009-05-11
passing through starfield in Leo, est. mag +13.5

Image

Annotated CCD Image 
(cropped to central area)
3 x 45s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-05-11 23:45 h UT (#368126-28)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

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C/2009 F6 (Yi-SWAN) - (Apr-May)

C/2009 F6 (Yi-SWAN), 2009-04-08
passing through starfield in Cassiopeia

Image

Annotated CCD Image (Cropped to central area)
30s sec exposure (single frame), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-04-08 21:43 h UT (#362030)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

 

C/2009 F6 (Yi-SWAN), 2009-04-19
 passing through starfield in Cassiopeia

Image

Annotated CCD Image (Cropped to central area)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-04-19 21:32 h UT (#363005-07)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

 

C/2009 F6 (Yi-SWAN), 2009-05-03
passing through starfield in Perseus 

Image

CCD Image (Cropped to central area)
2 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-05-03 22:24 h UT (#366028-30)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

 


C/2009 F6 (Yi-SWAN) - detail

Image

 CCD Image (Cropped to central area)
3x 90s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-04-08 21:43 h UT (#362031-33)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

  

C/2009 F6 (Yi-SWAN) - animation showing motion over 10 minute interval

Image

 CCD Image (Cropped to central area)
30s sec exposure, 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-04-08 21:48 to 21:57 h UT (#362034-48)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

  

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C/2006 Q1 (McNaught) - (May)

C/2006 Q1 (McNaught) passing through starfield in Hercules
This was the great comet of Jan 2007
(see 2007 pictures by Phil Hart, Melbourne, Australia )

Image

CCD Image (Cropped to central area)
3 x 90s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-05-03 23:35 h UT (#366108-110)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

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C/2006 W3 (Christensen) - (Jun-Nov)

C/2006 W3 (Christensen),  2009-08-07 - detail

Image

CCD Image (logs scale, 100% size, cropped, )
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-08-07 22:27 h UT (#382003-05)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Comet Images Jun to Nov 

C/2006 W3 (Christensen) - 2009-06-08
passing through star field in Lacerta

Image

CCD Image ( cropped)
6 x 10s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-06-08 00:14 h UT (#372038-44)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

C/2006 W3 (Christensen) - 2009-08-07
passing through star field in Vulpecula

Image

CCD Image (50% size reduction)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-08-07 22:27 h UT (#382003-05)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

C/2006 W3 (Christensen), 2008-08-21
passing through star field in Sagitta

Image

CCD Image (cropped to central area)
2 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-08-21 02:07 h UT (#385310-11)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

C/2006 W3 (Christensen), 2009-09-09
passing through star field in Aquila

Image

CCD Image (cropped to central area)
2 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-09-09 23:18 h UT (#387137-39)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

 

C/2006 W3 (Christensen), 2009-09-19
passing through star field in Aquila

Image

CCD Image (cropped to central area)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-09-19 20:48 h UT (#389071-73)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

 

C/2006 W3 (Christensen), 2009-10-07
passing through star field in Aquila

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-10-07 22:55 h UT (#392366-68)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

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22/P Kopff - (Jul-Sep)

Comet 22/P Kopff - 2009-07-28
passing through star field in Aquarius

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
2 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-07-28 00:34 h UT (#378219-20)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
 

Comet 22/P Kopff, 2009-07-31
passing through star field in Aquarius

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-07-31 01:07 h UT (#379539-41)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
 

Comet 22/P Kopff, 2009-09-09
passing through star field in Aquarius

Image

CCD Image (cropped to central area)
7 x 20s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-09-09 23:10 h UT (#387121-27)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

 

Comet 22/P Kopff, 2009-09-19
passing through star field in Aquarius

Image

CCD Image (cropped to central area)
3 x 20s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-09-19 22:34 h UT (#389210-12)
12" LX200R  (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

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