Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy), 24 January 2015
Animation of single images, tracking on the comet, flat and dark corrected.

Animation of processed images, stars removed by subtracting from the single images a median combine aligned on the stars.

This comet Lovejoy produced a stunning show because of its ion tail moving very fast as the comet moves into the Sun interplanetary field. This animation shows two hours of movement. The waves in the tail are much more apparent in the second processing, with stars removed.

Technical Data
Optics TEC 140
Focal Length
1011 mm
Focal Ratio f/7.2
Exposure Time Single images of 5 min, total o 19 images
CCD SBIG STL-11000M @-40°C
Location Capanne di Cosola (AL, Italian Apennines) at 1500 m height
Date
24 January 2015
Mount Gemini G-41
Tracking Lodestar on an 80mm f/5 refractor
Temperature and humidity T= -3 °C, RH=75 %
Sky brightness at zenith (with SQM-L) 20.7-21.0 mag/arcsec^2
Notes Clear sky. Tracking on the comet. Crescent Moon brightens the sky.


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