Comet Nishimura - Astronomy Picture of the Day (NASA)

[usonian]

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230911.html



Beautiful Comet Nishimura 2023 September 11

Credit & Copyright: Petr Horálek / Institute of Physics in Opava

Explanation: This scene would be beautiful even without the comet. By itself, the sunrise sky is an elegant deep blue on high, with faint white stars peeking through, while near the horizon is a pleasing tan. By itself, the foreground hills of eastern Slovakia are appealingly green, with the Zadňa hura and Veľká hora hills in the distance, and with the lights of small towns along the way. Venus, by itself on the right, appears unusually exquisite, surrounded by a colorful atmospheric corona. But what attracts the eye most is the comet. On the left, in this composite image taken just before dawn yesterday morning, is Comet Nishimura. On recent mornings around the globe, its bright coma and long ion tail make many a morning panoramic photo unusually beautiful. Tomorrow, C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) will pass its nearest to the Earth for about the next 434 years.

EXIF info says:
Canon EOS 6D
50mm f/1.4 20 seconds exposure ISO 1000

[LanguageLover]

1. Just posted it to my FB page

I just posted it to my own FB page. The beautiful photograph should move a lot of hearts.

[usonian]

2. Indeed. That's a pretty amazing foreground.

I just have these mountains 😀 but I really need sleep and try not to wake up early.

(now, where did I put that coffee mug? ☕️ )

[marble falls]

3. So that isn't a photograph??

[usonian]

4. Very much a photograph.

NASA labels artists' conceptions as such, and painters don't attach EXIF information that I know of!

Enjoy. The best photographs are art.

[sl8]

10. It's a composite:

https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23774

Nowadays we can look for a brighter morning comet C/2023 P1 Nishimura, discovered on 12 August by Hideo Nishimura from Japan. As the comet gets closest to the Sun (which happens on 17th September), it is getting brighter and making the comet an easier target for nightscape photography. This morning, I was successful from Zahradne, Slovakia, where the comet appeared against the little bit cloudy sky. Its tail is so bright that even in the backyard telescope I could enjoy it in almost full field of view. In the wide-angle view, bright Venus (and surrounded by atmospheric corona) and Praesepe cluster over eastern Slovakia (with Zadňa Hura and Veľká hora hills in distance). Unfortunately, the comet is harder to observe any next morning, so I am truly happy I made it at least once to see this beauty!

Used Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm (set to 200mm), f2.8, ISO 800, 10x20s. Wide angle was taken with Sigma 50mm, f2.0, 15s. Tracked with Vixen Polarie U mount.

[usonian]

13. Thanks, I didn't go past the NASA post.

Dazzled.

https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23774

Mighty nice. Wow.

[sl8]

14. De nada. Thanks for the OP. nt

[2naSalit]

5. I was out looking for that...

And I never caught a glimpse, even with binos.

Supposedly you can see it just after sunset too, maybe?

[usonian]

6. Early Morning 🥱

Early risers should look toward the northeastern horizon about 1 1/2 hours before dawn — to be specific, less than 10 or so degrees above the horizon near the constellation Leo. The comet will brighten as it gets closer to the sun, but will drop lower in the sky, making it tricky to spot.

https://democraticunderground.com/100218252226
Props to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

I included a sky map in my reply, but you'd need a planisphere or star app or online sky chart to help find it.



https://stellarium-web.org

https://theskylive.com/planetarium

[2naSalit]

7. I think...

I gave up too early. I was awake at 3:30 so I started looking then but didn't continue going out after about 4:30 and that's probably when I should have been out starting to look. I'll try again tomorrow.

Thank you!

[usonian]

8. Yes! Use the star charts to tell you where the comet is and when.

☄ ☄ Good luck. ☄ ☄

If you can find a star app cheap for your phone or tablet, that's fine. I keep setting the time zone but things seem an hour off.

[2naSalit]

9. I can pick out...

A lot of constellations, my dad was a celestial navigator and he would show us a lot of things. And I grew up to study the stars in different ways so I'm pretty familiar with the starry dome much of the time. I have resources for locating things, my timing was off... I heard about it on the radio and stardate has a pretty good website. I just need to know what it's near and when.

[usonian]

11. Here's a puzzler

The Yosemite Conservancy (https://yosemite.org) has been upgrading the park webcams.
So, I looked at the "El Capitan" webcam at night, and it is really sensitive.
I zipped up the contrast a bit, so tell me what you think the constellations are.

I think this is in the general Scorpius area.



Seems to have lost some in hosting.

[jeffreyi]

12. Beautiful.

I have looked for it. No luck. Maybe tomorrow a.m.