panstarrs - Communicate Science

UPDATED 21:00 PST. 12/03/2013

More comet PANSTARRS tonight. This time with the crescent moon, and a few aircraft trying to get into shot as usual:

Comet PANSTARRS C/2011 L4 12/03/2013 19:30-20:00 PST Los Angeles, Canon 7D 100-400mm L ©Tim Jones

Nice Earthlight tonight, with light reflected from the Earth onto the part of the crescent moon that's in shadow from the sun. — Nice Earthlight tonight, with light reflected from the Earth onto the part of the crescent moon that’s in shadow from the sun.

Aircraft getting in on the act:

Comet, Moon, and aircraft with contrail illuminated by sun (below horizon)

UPDATED 20:00 PST. 11/03/2013

A couple more PANSTARRS pictures from Monday 11th March 2013 in the hills above Los Angeles. I think the air was even clearer than last night, and there was no cloud to speak of. First shot here includes an aircraft coming into LAX. In the second shot, the bright point below the comet is Mars. Hope to catch the crescent moon in shot on Wednesday 13th.

Comet PANSTARRS c/2011 L4 11/03/2013 19:30-19:45 PST Los Angeles ©Tim Jones — Comet PANSTARRS c/2011 L4 11/03/2013 19:30-19:45 PST Los Angeles. 0.5s, f.5.6, ISO 3200, Canon 7D 100-400mm L at 400mm ©Tim Jones

I was too busy last night finding the thing to notice, but I wouldn’t describe this as a ‘naked eye’ comet – so far. Detectable in 7×40 binoculars; much better in 15 x 70s.

10th March 2013

Here are my first pictures of comet PANSTARRS c/2011 L4, taken shortly after sunset from the hills above Los Angeles on 10th March 2013 between 19.30 and 19.45 PST. I’m hoping to get some more shots when the comet is close to the moon on Wednesday 13th, and will update if successful. Quite a challenging subject and my first comet! Exposure info. for these: Canon 7D, 200mm and 400mm, f.5.0-5.6, 1/4 s to 1s, ISO 800 and 1600.

Picture from here 10th March 2013: