Multiscale imaging of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks: pictures and time-lapse – 5 Mar. 2024

We managed to capture very spectacular images of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, using optics with very different fields of view. One of them shows the great Andromeda Galaxy, too.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks and the great Andromeda Galaxy. 5 Mar. 2024.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks and the great Andromeda Galaxy. 5 Mar. 2024.

The image above comes from the combination of 5, 120-second exposures, remotely taken with the Samyang 135+Paramount ME+ZWO ASI 6200MC Pro robotic unit available as part of the Virtual Telescope Project facility in Manciano, Italy. The covered field of view is about of 16 x 11 square degrees. The picture shows a superb  perspective couple: the comet and the Great Andromeda Galaxy.

Then, we did a mid-res image, showing the glory of the comet as below:

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks: 5 Mar. 2024.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks: 5 Mar. 2024.

It comes from the sigma clipping combination of 9, 120-second unfiltered exposures, unguided, taken with the ARTEC250+Paramount ME+C3Pro61000EC robotic unit available as part of the Virtual Telescope Project facility in Manciano, Italy.

Using the many of the frames collected, we managed to create a time-lapse, showing the fast evolution of the tail

Lastly, using the larger telescope available last night, we managed to capture the inner coma of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, with amazing details, as seen in the following picture:

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks shows dust waves close to its nuclear region: 5 Mar. 2024.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks shows dust waves close to its nuclear region: 5 Mar. 2024.

It comes from the sigma-clipping combination of seven, 180-second exposures, unfiltered and unguided, remotely taken with the Celestron C14+Paramount ME+SBIG ST8-XME robotic unit available as part of the Virtual Telescope Project. The resulting frame was carefully processed to show the mind blowing structure of the inner coma, with dust waves.

Next 10 Mar., starting at 18:30 UTC, we will show this comet live!

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