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Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Mosaic April29 - May9, 2024, Dan Bartlett

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Mosaic April29 - May9, 2024

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Mosaic April29 - May9, 2024, Dan Bartlett

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Mosaic April29 - May9, 2024

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Acquisition details

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Description

Worth a closer look...  Here I've stitched together nine nights (original revision) of watching comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS drift against a back drop of spotted galaxies and sparsely populated stars, here and there, in the constellation of Virgo.  I managed to take approximately two hours of integration time (except for the final frame - 1 hour) on each of the nine nights this mosaic is comprised of.  I did hope for 11 straight nights of imaging however a heavy snow storm (12" accumulation) on May4th and a dramatic windstorm on May 6th forced the downtime. The final version spaces a reduction of six nights evenly, separated by an equal amount of time of 48 hours of comet travel.   

Although the comet has yet to stir up a lot of diversity, it's concentrated brightness dominated each of the 120 second subframes.  The comet registered stacked image (not shown) hints of a faint greenish envelope of gas surrounding the comets nuclear region.  Many galaxies can be viewed upon closer inspection.

Observational details:
Backyard setup
scope: C14 HyperStar  fl728mm D356mm
exposure: 62 x 120 sec 
Seeing: avg FWHM 4/29 3.4, 4/30 2.9, 5/01 2.6, 5/02 3.6, 5/03 4.0, 5/05 3.1, 5/07 2.9, 5/08 2.8, 5/09 2.8 
Transparency 8 -  9/10 
Observer: DEBartlett
Place: June Lake_California USA

Details for each panel are as follows: 
C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__58x120sec_047_10C_2024_04_29_None_230941_c_cc_d_r
Image Info (4/29):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1459.029073 964.491154] px -> [RA: 13 25 32.148  Dec:  -1 06 18.07]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -4.199 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-04-30 06:09:41 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-04-30 06:11:41 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.24 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 26.7" x 1d 8' 23.0"
Image center ............. RA: 13 25 32.149  Dec:  -1 06 18.07  ex: +0.000001 px  ey: -0.000009 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 28 48.028  Dec:  -0 28 30.91  ex: -1.125046 px  ey: -1.444799 px
   top-right ............. RA: 13 21 56.144  Dec:  -0 36 02.96  ex: +1.737373 px  ey: -1.195620 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 29 08.038  Dec:  -1 36 34.47  ex: -1.120453 px  ey: +0.002172 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 13 22 16.031  Dec:  -1 44 07.56  ex: +0.433257 px  ey: +0.000345 px

C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__56x120sec_045_10C_2024_04_30_None_230559_c_cc_d_r
Image Info (4/30):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1459.029412 964.494805] px -> [RA: 13 23 33.536  Dec:  -0 56 57.27]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -3.874 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-05-01 06:05:59 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-05-01 06:07:59 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.18 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 27.2" x 1d 8' 23.4"
Image center ............. RA: 13 23 33.536  Dec:  -0 56 57.29  ex: -0.000060 px  ey: -0.000456 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 26 50.307  Dec:  -0 19 26.53  ex: -1.106840 px  ey: -1.217447 px
   top-right ............. RA: 13 19 58.269  Dec:  -0 26 23.79  ex: +1.744622 px  ey: -1.188886 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 27 08.790  Dec:  -1 27 32.89  ex: -1.553633 px  ey: +0.031897 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 13 20 16.560  Dec:  -1 34 30.24  ex: +0.433634 px  ey: +0.000116 px

C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__62x120sec_065_10C_2024_05_01_None_235054_c_cc_d_r
Image Info (5/01):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1458.971498 964.497562] px -> [RA: 13 19 31.002  Dec:  -0 40 06.82]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -3.877 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-05-02 06:50:54 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-05-02 06:52:54 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.09 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 27.9" x 1d 8' 23.9"
Image center ............. RA: 13 19 31.002  Dec:  -0 40 06.83  ex: -0.000033 px  ey: -0.000011 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 22 47.769  Dec:  -0 02 35.93  ex: -1.140157 px  ey: -1.690593 px
   top-right ............. RA: 13 15 55.727  Dec:  -0 09 33.88  ex: +1.742399 px  ey: -1.188880 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 23 06.250  Dec:  -1 10 42.77  ex: -1.099406 px  ey: +0.000155 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 13 16 14.059  Dec:  -1 17 40.86  ex: +0.433405 px  ey: +0.001226 px

C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__61x120sec_063_10C_2024_05_02_None_234620_c_cc_d_r
Image Info (5/02):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1459.029694 964.471126] px -> [RA: 13 16 46.880  Dec:  -0 31 29.94]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -3.883 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-05-03 06:46:21 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-05-03 06:48:21 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.17 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 27.3" x 1d 8' 23.4"
Image center ............. RA: 13 16 46.879  Dec:  -0 31 29.94  ex: -0.000054 px  ey: +0.000005 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 20 03.637  Dec:  +0 06 01.04  ex: -1.118325 px  ey: -1.384382 px
   top-right ............. RA: 13 13 11.612  Dec:  -0 00 57.44  ex: +1.743827 px  ey: -1.188748 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 20 22.114  Dec:  -1 02 05.30  ex: -1.765932 px  ey: +0.046443 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 13 13 30.007  Dec:  -1 09 04.37  ex: +0.433311 px  ey: +0.000717 px

C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__66x120sec_042_10C_2024_05_03_None_225735_c_cc_d_r
Image Info (5/03):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1458.980126 964.526821] px -> [RA: 13 13 57.161  Dec:  -0 22 18.26]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -4.197 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-05-04 05:57:35 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-05-04 05:59:35 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.34 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 25.8" x 1d 8' 22.5"
Image center ............. RA: 13 13 57.161  Dec:  -0 22 18.25  ex: -0.000001 px  ey: +0.000034 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 17 13.033  Dec:  +0 15 28.22  ex: -1.134969 px  ey: -1.583464 px
   top-right ............. RA: 13 10 21.184  Dec:  +0 07 56.58  ex: +1.736394 px  ey: -1.195373 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 17 32.977  Dec:  -0 52 35.29  ex: -1.170404 px  ey: +0.005592 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 13 10 41.091  Dec:  -1 00 07.92  ex: +0.433065 px  ey: +0.000691 px

C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__56x120sec_051_10C_2024_05_05_None_232423_c_cc_d_r1
Image Info (5/05):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1458.990310 964.504540] px -> [RA: 13 08 25.578  Dec:  -0 05 44.42]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -1.507 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-05-06 06:24:24 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-05-06 06:26:24 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.09 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 28.0" x 1d 8' 23.9"
Image center ............. RA: 13 08 25.578  Dec:  -0 05 44.41  ex: -0.000034 px  ey: +0.000081 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 11 48.393  Dec:  +0 29 42.39  ex: -1.098767 px  ey: -1.098552 px
   top-right ............. RA: 13 04 55.545  Dec:  +0 27 00.23  ex: +0.433314 px  ey: -1.098554 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 11 55.541  Dec:  -0 38 32.17  ex: -1.298619 px  ey: +0.005725 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 13 05 02.637  Dec:  -0 41 13.92  ex: +0.433287 px  ey: +0.000284 px

C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__58x120sec_031_10C_2024_05_07_None_224304_c_cc_d_r 
Image Info (5/07):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1459.011095 964.506756] px -> [RA: 13 02 39.253  Dec:  +0 11 44.72]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -1.835 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-05-08 05:43:04 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-05-08 05:45:04 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.24 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 26.7" x 1d 8' 23.0"
Image center ............. RA: 13 02 39.254  Dec:  +0 11 44.73  ex: -0.000001 px  ey: -0.000020 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 06 01.226  Dec:  +0 47 28.17  ex: -1.098743 px  ey: -1.099726 px
   top-right ............. RA: 12 59 08.430  Dec:  +0 44 11.38  ex: +0.433470 px  ey: -1.098592 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 06 09.873  Dec:  -0 20 44.27  ex: -1.098929 px  ey: +0.000551 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 12 59 17.149  Dec:  -0 24 02.22  ex: +0.433449 px  ey: +0.000327 px

C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__62x120sec_010_10C_2024_05_08_None_215538_c_cc_d_r
Image Info (5/08):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1458.980257 964.513507] px -> [RA: 13 00 02.032  Dec:  +0 19 20.65]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -1.517 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-05-09 04:55:39 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-05-09 04:57:39 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.20 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 27.0" x 1d 8' 23.2"
Image center ............. RA: 13 00 02.032  Dec:  +0 19 20.66  ex: +0.000119 px  ey: -0.000033 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 03 24.820  Dec:  +0 54 47.60  ex: -1.099110 px  ey: -1.098755 px
   top-right ............. RA: 12 56 31.948  Dec:  +0 52 04.79  ex: +0.433368 px  ey: -1.098652 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 03 31.967  Dec:  -0 13 26.68  ex: -1.275257 px  ey: +0.005299 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 12 56 39.113  Dec:  -0 16 09.34  ex: +0.433383 px  ey: +0.000307 px

C_2023_A3_Tsuchinshan_ATLAS_Light__35x120sec_003_10C_2024_05_09_None_214039_c_cc_d_r
 Image Info (5/09):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1458.985790 964.508399] px -> [RA: 12 57 04.506  Dec:  +0 27 55.74]
Resolution ............... 2.127 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. -1.825 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-05-10 04:40:40 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-05-10 04:42:40 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W  37 46 51 N  2360 m
Focal distance ........... 729.27 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 1d 43' 26.4" x 1d 8' 22.9"
Image center ............. RA: 12 57 04.506  Dec:  +0 27 55.73  ex: +0.000012 px  ey: -0.000012 px
Image bounds:
   top-left .............. RA: 13 00 26.492  Dec:  +1 03 38.55  ex: -1.099101 px  ey: -1.099694 px
   top-right ............. RA: 12 53 33.695  Dec:  +1 00 22.59  ex: +0.433291 px  ey: -1.098624 px
   bottom-left ........... RA: 13 00 35.109  Dec:  -0 04 34.20  ex: -1.100174 px  ey: +0.000954 px
   bottom-right .......... RA: 12 53 42.381  Dec:  -0 07 50.75  ex: +0.433346 px  ey: +0.000327 px

Comments

Revisions

  • Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Mosaic April29 - May9, 2024, Dan Bartlett
    Original
  • Final
    Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Mosaic April29 - May9, 2024, Dan Bartlett
    B

Histogram

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Mosaic April29 - May9, 2024, Dan Bartlett

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