Dueling Comets: 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann and C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)

Dueling Comets: 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann and C/2022 E2 (ATLAS) Feb 19, 2024 695 views9280×56046.3 MB Link

Adam Block

Remote observatory

Mount Lemmon SkyCenter, Tucson (AZ), US

Cnc

8h 16m 34s · +21° 19′ 52″

2.35°

1.56″/px

6.20°N

Integration

R	12×360″	1h 12′
G	12×360″	1h 12′	4 Feb 2024	35%
B	12×360″	1h 12′
Totals		3h 36′	4 Feb 2024	35%

R	12×360″=1h 12′
G	12×360″=1h 12′
4 Feb 2024	35%

B	12×360″=1h 12′

Totals	3h 36′
4 Feb 2024	35%

Equipment

Telescope	TakahashiEpsilon-180ED
Camera	QHYCCDQHY600PH M
Mount	Software BisqueParamount MYT GEM
Filters	AstrodonGen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Blue 65x65 mm AstrodonGen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Green 50 mm AstrodonGen2 I-Series Tru-Balance Red 50 mm
Software	Pleiades AstrophotoPixInsight

Objects

NGC 2545 NGC 2553 NGC 2556 NGC 2557 NGC 2558 NGC 2560 NGC 2562 NGC 2563 NGC 2565 NGC 2569 + 7 more

Description

Dueling Comets:

This is a rare picture of two comets (similar brightness) in the same field of view:
29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is at the top left and C/2022 E2 (ATLAS) is towards the lower right. In terms of creating the image, the fascinating aspect is that both comets move along individual orbits. This requires two iterations of comet alignments and some fancy blending operations to assembly the picture! I cover the basic methods in my new course called Comet Academy- and in addition I released a wide-ranging YouTube video that talks about this image.

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