So I went out East in the wee hours of this morning (left home about 1:30 am) to try to get some shots of Comet Lovejoy.

I found 2 spots that gave me a decent view, both within about 10 -15 km this side of York.

The first location gave me a bonus of this (appologies! this is my first attempt at layering multiple frames):



The vertical streak is the tail of Comet Lovejoy, the linear segments are the International Space Station passing through my field of view. What a bonus!

I took the shots as best I could but I wasn't quick enough to be able to capture enough frames to make the ISS's trajectory 1 solid line....Oh well, next time!

Quite happy with the resultant composite of the 4 frames I got....damn it's hard to get a sharp manual focus under zero light conditions!!

I lit the hay crop in the foreground with a hand held led torch just for effect.

From the second location I found, I think this is the best shot I took of the Comet's Tail:


A very dusty Version 6 under the 'Saucepan' at first light:

__________________
[CENTER][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC][/CENTER]
[CENTER][COLOR=#ff0000]Built Ej207: Semi-closed RA Cases - Wiseco Forgies - Manley rods - BC 272 cams - GDA Heads - billet f/whl - Vi-pec - WbO2 - 800cc Yellow tops - TD05-20G - 409Hp ath @ 1.75bar on E85[/COLOR][/CENTER]

great pictures ross!

__________________

Long live the WRC

Wicked.... Especially the last one of Samantha !

__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

My flame suit is on. Give it your best biatch.


[COLOR="Red"]My STI's carbon emissions are offset by killing puppies.[/COLOR]

Nice work Rossco, they look great!

Would you mind posting up the settings and equipment you used please?

Cheers,

Wrxpc

Cheers gents!

Camera: Canon 60D
Lens: 50mm F1.8 prime & 18-55 EFS
F-stop: 50mm: F2.8-F4, 18-55 @ 18mm F5 - F8
Iso: 100 -1000
Exposure: 10-60 seconds (using Bulb mode with a wired remote release)

Camera on a basic tripod, weighted with a 2kg sandbag to reduce shutter shake.

I'm going to head out again tonight, I was dead tired when I got the shots - I think I can do better.... I want to try some different filters & I wish I had a motorized equatorial mount so the stars didn't blur during the longer exposures.

__________________
[CENTER][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC][/CENTER]
[CENTER][COLOR=#ff0000]Built Ej207: Semi-closed RA Cases - Wiseco Forgies - Manley rods - BC 272 cams - GDA Heads - billet f/whl - Vi-pec - WbO2 - 800cc Yellow tops - TD05-20G - 409Hp ath @ 1.75bar on E85[/COLOR][/CENTER]

Here's my attempts at the comet whilst at work.


Comet Lovejoy 1 by Ryan S Kelly, on Flickr


Comet Lovejoy Cosmos Pit by Ryan S Kelly, on Flickr

Couldn't figure out how to use live-view on work's 5Dmk2 so guessed the focus.

__________________
Ryan

I love the one from the bottom of the pit!

__________________
[CENTER][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC][/CENTER]
[CENTER][COLOR=#ff0000]Built Ej207: Semi-closed RA Cases - Wiseco Forgies - Manley rods - BC 272 cams - GDA Heads - billet f/whl - Vi-pec - WbO2 - 800cc Yellow tops - TD05-20G - 409Hp ath @ 1.75bar on E85[/COLOR][/CENTER]

Yup, pit one is sick Ryan!

Cheers guys, I've visited that particular spot a couple of times, it's still missing something but I'll get it right eventually!

__________________
Ryan

Wow. Great images guys.
Thanks for sharing those setting Rossco.
Keep em coming.

__________________
Have Fun.