Comet - David Mathre Photography

Sunday (27-October-2024) — New Jersey

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) over New Jersey

Another clear night. It has been very dry this fall with few clouds. All five telescopes were out tonight. First viewing the comet. The Vespera II telescope was fitted with a CLS (city light suppression) filter causing the tint to the image. The length of the comet tail can be estimated based on the field of view for the telescope’s digital sensors. Stellina (1.0° x 0.7°), Vespera Classic (1.6° x 0.9°), Vespera Passengers (2.4° x 1.8°), Vespera II (2.5° x 1.4°), and Vespera Pro (1.6° x 1.6°). The jpg images were processed to increase the brightness (Capture One Pro) and reduce the noise (Topaz AI).

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Composite of 30 images taken with a Vaonis Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5, 30 x 10 sec).

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Composite of 30 images taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 30 x 10 sec).

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Composite of 30 images taken with a Vaonis Vespera Passengers Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 30 x 10 sec).

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Composite of 30 images taken with a Vaonis Vespera II Telescope (250 mm, f/5, 30 x 10 sec) using a CLS (city light suppression) filter.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Composite of 30 images taken with a Vaonis Vespera-Pro Telescope (250 mm, f/5, 30 x 10 sec).

After the comet dropped below the tree line, the telescopes were set to continue or start multi-night mosaic observations of the Veil Nebulae (NGC 6960 and NGC 6992), the Heart and Fish Head Nebulae (IC 1805 and IC 1795), and the Horse Head and Flame Nebulae (IC 434 and NGC 2024). Three of the telescopes Vespera Classic, Vespera Passenger, and Vespera Pro) were fitted with a dual narrowband interference Hα/OIII (hydrogen alpha/oxygen III) filter. The CLS filter remained on the Vespera II telescope, and no filter was used on the Stellina telescope.

Saturday (26-October-2024) — New Jersey

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) over New Jersey

The sky continues to be clear, and the comet remains visible to the Stellina and Vespera telescopes. Each night getting fainter. The images are five-minute composites (30 x 10 second exposures). Although I would like to do longer composite images, the comet is moving relative to the stars in the image. This is shown in the cropped fourth image (12m 20s = 73 x 10 second exposures) which also has jet trails passing through the comet tail.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Composite of 73 images taken with a Vaonis Vespera-Pro Telescope (250 mm, f/5, 30 x 10 sec). Cropped image with jet trails passing through the tail.

Heart and Fish Head Nebula (IC 1805 and IC 1795)

The recent update for the Singularity application used to control the Stellina and Vespera telescopes includes the capability to include mosaic observations in the “Plan Your Night” module. Mosaic observations allow the instruments to view wider sections of the night sky. The new update also provides the ability to make multi-night observations. I will be starting some observations of the combined Heart and Fish Head Nebula (IC 1805 and IC 1795) and the combined Horsehead and Flame Nebula (IC 434 and NGC 2024).

I will be doing these observations over the next several nights after Comet C/2023 A3 sets below the tree line. These are the jpg images directly from the Stellina, Vespera classic, and Vespera-Pro telescopes without any additional image processing. I want to see how the multi-night images improve over time. Note that the Stellina telescope is not using any filters, whereas the Vespera classic and Vespera Pro telescopes are using a dual narrowband interference filter H-α (hydrogen-alpha) and O-III (oxygen-III) to enhance the light from the emission nebula.

IC 1805 (Heart Nebula) and IC 1795 (Fish Head Nebula). Multi-night Mosaic. Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5, 10 sec exposures). Night 1: 1251 stacked images (3h 28m 50s); mosaic 2503 x 2552 pixels.

IC 1805 (Heart Nebula) and IC 1795 (Fish Head Nebula). Multi-night Mosaic. Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 10 sec exposures). Night 1: 516 stacked images (0h 48m 00s); mosaic 2896 x 2863 pixels. (516 exp, 6.6°, 60% rh)

IC 1805 (Heart Nebula) and IC 1795 (Fish Head Nebula). Multi-night Mosaic. Vespera Pro Telescope (250 mm, f/5, 10 sec exposures). Night 1: 1015+82=1177 stacked images (3h 16m 10s); mosaic 5304 x 5304 pixels. IC1805 (5.6°, 70% rh)

Horsehead and Flame Nebula (IC 434 and NGC 2024)

IC 434 (Horsehead Nebula) and NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula). Multi-night Mosaic. Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5, 10 sec exposures). Night 1: 708 stacked images (1h 88m 00s); mosaic 2527 x 2528 pixels. IC434 (709 exp, 1.9°, 87% rh)

IC 434 (Horsehead Nebula) and NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula). Multi-night Mosaic. Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 10 sec exposures). Night 1: 1015 stacked images (1h 49m 10s); mosaic 2840 x 2920 pixels. IC434 (1015 exp, 4.8°, 68% rh)

IC 434 (Horsehead Nebula) and NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula). Multi-night Mosaic. Vespera Pro Telescope (250 mm, f/5, 10 sec exposures). Night 1: 862 stacked images (1h 23m 40s); mosaic 5304 x 5304 pixels.

Friday (25-October-2024) — New Jersey

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) over New Jersey

The comet continues to be visible to my Stellina and Vespera telescopes. The tail is getting shorter and shorter. The images are five-minute composites (30 x 10 second exposures). With longer exposures there is movement of the comet head relative to the visible stars. Clouds came in before the comet descended below the western tree line preventing longer observations.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Composite of 30 images taken with a Vaonis Vespera-II Telescope (250 mm, f/5, 30 x 10 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro with noise reduction using Topaz AI.

Thursday (24-October-2024) — New Jersey

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) over New Jersey

The comet is now high enough just after dusk to view from my patio, so I don’t need to move the Vespera telescopes to the far back section of the yard. It also means I can use the Stellina telescope, which is heavier and requires a sturdier tripod. Note the thin bright streak going back from the head of the comet down the middle of the tail.

Wednesday (23-October-2024) — New Jersey

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) over New Jersey

Four tripods and four telescopes were set up in the far corner of the back yard to view the comet. The Vespera telescopes weigh 11 lbs (5 kg) which makes them relatively easy to transport and move. I’m not sure why the image from the Vespera Pro telescope was dimmer than the others.