COMETS

Images and Accounts of Comets by members:


Comet McNaught C/2006 P1 in Jan. 2007

comet mcnaught comet mcnaught

Photos (details) of Comet McNaught C/2006 P1 by John O'Neill on 5th and 10thJanuary 2007.


Comet SWAN C/2006 M4 in Oct. 2006

SWAN SWAN

Photo (detail) by John O'Neill on 12th Oct 2006. Imaged with a digital camera using a 60mm refractor at focal length 390mm. The faint tail is visible.

Drawing by Deirdre Kelleghan. She drew the Comet and globular cluster M13 on October 28th 2006 at 18:30 UT. Used 15X70 binoculars at Virginia, Co Cavan.


Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann

Comet 73P

Never a very bright comet, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann passed throught the field of the famous variable star R Corona Borealis. Imaged by John O'Neill. 22nd April 2006. 355mm focal length with a digital camera.


Comet Machholz C/2004 Q2

Comet Machholz; Click image for higher resolution (70K)

The Comet passes near the M45 Star Cluster (Pleiades or Seven Sisters) on 8th January 2005. The green colour of the comet is evident. Imaged by John O'Neill with a digital camera. 1 minute exposure.


Comet NEAT C/2001 Q4

Comet NEAT; Click image for higher resolution (100K)

Although never a great comet as some predicted, it was a pretty enough sight particularly from dark skies. It reached 3rd magnitude at best. Liam Smyth imaged a close up view through a 20cm Schmidt-Cassegrain 2000mm focal length on 29th May 2004.


Comet Ikeya-Zhang

Comet Ikeya-Zhang; Click image for higher resolution (61K)

17 April 2002 23.30 UT.
John McConnell made a 8 minute exposure with a 135mm focal length lens.
200 ASA print film. Passing cloud at left.


Comet Ikeya-Zhang C/2002 C1

Comet Ikeya-Zhang; Click image for higher resolution (28K) Comet Ikeya-Zhang; Click image for higher resolution (75K)

(left) 1 April 2002 21.05 UT.
5 minute exposure with Fujichrome 200 on a 135mm focal length lens.
Some cloud present. Near Kells, Co. Meath.

(right) 7 April 2002 21.44 UT.
2.5 minute exposure with Fujichrome 200 on a 50mm focal length lens at f/2.8.
Clear sky. Near Kells, Co. Meath.

Both by John O'Neill


Comet LINEAR C/1999 S4

Comet LINEAR; Click image for higher resolution (31K)

21 July 2000 00.05 UT.
30 sec. exposure with a CCD on a 480mm focal length refractor.
In Dublin sky glow with a waning gibbous moon. Somewhat hazy sky.

By John O'Neill


Evening view of Hale-Bopp

Hale-Bopp; Click image for higher resolution (77K)

The Comet is just above Gamma Andromedae at 21.30 UT on 3rd April 1997. Messier 34 is to the upper left of the Comet. Excellent conditions bring out the white dust-tail and the blue ion-tail.

Taken by Brian Noonan with a 50mm lens at f2.8 (60 sec., Fujicolor Super G Plus 400).


Hale-Bopp near Algol

Hale-Bopp; Click image for higher resolution (70K)

The Comet at 21.05 UT on 10th April 1997. The bright star in the white dust tail is Beta Persei or Algol, the famous eclipsing variable. Taken by Brian Noonan with a 50mm lens at f2.8 (60 sec., Fujicolor Super G Plus 400).


Hale-Bopp in the Morning Sky

Hale-Bopp; Click image for higher resolution (31K)

The Comet among the stars of eastern Cygnus on the morning of 2nd March 1997. Taken by John O'Neill with a 50mm lens on a fixed tripod (35 sec., Fujichrome 400).


Comet Hale-Bopp, C/1995 O1

Hale-Bopp; Click image for higher resolution (24K)

The Comet on the morning of 13th March 1997. Taken by John O'Neill with a 105mm Telephoto Lens. (5 min., Ektachrome 400).


Pointing out Hale-Bopp

Hale-Bopp; click image for higher resolution (27K)

John O'Neill pointing out the comet. The Comet, in Lacerta, on the evening of 8th March 1997. Sky glow from Dublin. Taken with a 50mm Lens f1.8. (40 sec., Ektachrome 400). Courtesy John O'Neill (photo taken by Angela O'Connell).


Hale-Bopp above the trees

Hale-Bopp; Click image for higher resolution (64K)

The Comet, in Andromeda, on the evening of 31st March 1997. The blue Ion Tail is passing near the Perseus Double Cluster while the cream Dust Tail curves towards Cassiopeia. Taken with a 50mm Lens f2.5. (10 min., Ektachrome 400). Film Scanner used (Unprocessed). Taken by John O'Neill.


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