Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks on April 4, 2024

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks,. 6 x 2 minutes, QHY294C, Astro-Tech AT60EDP at F/5, UV/IR filter.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks,. 6 x 2 minutes, QHY294C, Astro-Tech AT60EDP at F/5, UV/IR filter.
Canon T3 and Sigma 28-70 Zoom F2.8/4 set at 70mm, F/4, 20 x 30 seconds, ISO 3200.

Great transparency for this session, but very, very poor seeing. The guiding failed because it was so bad. Star were literally jumping from place to place in the guide camera view. So, I went unguided and had to dump more subs than I could afford. The comet was now setting over a more intense light dome than before at this location, too, which didn’t help. And then there’s all the darn satellites! Thanks a lot, Elon!

Since this was just about the end of the northern hemisphere’s time to catch the comet without twilight interference, I put together a montage of the best 12P images I managed to take while it was visible:

Too bad the weather didn’t cooperate in early March for me when the comet was higher in the sky.   But, I’m glad it finally did clear up enough for me to get these before it was too late.

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