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Mousetoescamper

(5,138 posts)
Sun Apr 21, 2024, 11:13 PM Apr 2024

The comet reached peak brightness tonight; here's a shot taken from my back deck

The 12P/Pons-Brooks Comet visits the inner solar system every 71 years and reached perihelion — the point in its elliptical orbit when it's closest to the sun — tonight (April 21). I wasn’t able to see it with my naked eyes or through binoculars because it was positioned in the glow of sunset and behind thin clouds here in Lancaster, PA. My 14mm lens was able to catch it, though.

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The comet reached peak brightness tonight; here's a shot taken from my back deck (Original Post) Mousetoescamper Apr 2024 OP
What a wonderful capture, my dear Mousetoescamper! CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2024 #1
Thanks! Mousetoescamper Apr 2024 #4
Cool! 2naSalit Apr 2024 #2
Thanks and you're welcome! Mousetoescamper Apr 2024 #5
You live in Egypt? OAITW r.2.0 Apr 2024 #3
Egypt in the Susquehanna Valley. Lots of tourists. Few camels. Mousetoescamper Apr 2024 #6
Very nice! Thanks for sharing this, Mousetoescamper. littlemissmartypants Apr 2024 #7
Thanks and you're welcome! Mousetoescamper Apr 2024 #8
Halley's Comet's anticipated return in 86 was a big disappointment but Dave Bowman Apr 2024 #9
Are you sure that's the comet? LastDemocratInSC Apr 2024 #10
Pretty sure. That's a 6.6 second exposure Mousetoescamper Apr 2024 #11
Outstanding work! HAB911 Apr 2024 #12
Thanks! Mousetoescamper Apr 2024 #13

CaliforniaPeggy

(152,070 posts)
1. What a wonderful capture, my dear Mousetoescamper!
Sun Apr 21, 2024, 11:26 PM
Apr 2024

It's a beautiful shot.

The clouds are wonderful, and the stars too, plus the clear tail of the comet!

Congrats!

littlemissmartypants

(25,483 posts)
7. Very nice! Thanks for sharing this, Mousetoescamper.
Mon Apr 22, 2024, 12:36 AM
Apr 2024

Remember Kohoutek? I saw that one. It was awesome and visible to the naked eye. ❤️

Mousetoescamper

(5,138 posts)
8. Thanks and you're welcome!
Mon Apr 22, 2024, 12:53 AM
Apr 2024

I remember Kohoutek and all the buzz it stirred, but didn't get to see it. I did get to see Hyakutake in the mid-1990s, though, and even took a photo, although it showed no tail.

Dave Bowman

(3,606 posts)
9. Halley's Comet's anticipated return in 86 was a big disappointment but
Mon Apr 22, 2024, 02:26 AM
Apr 2024

The most spectacular was Hale–Bopp back in 95. I'll never forget how amazed I was.

LastDemocratInSC

(3,829 posts)
10. Are you sure that's the comet?
Mon Apr 22, 2024, 02:33 AM
Apr 2024

It's currently in Taurus below Jupiter at magnitude 4.5. I'm not sure you could see that at sunset.

There is a prominent feature that appears to be a contrail, however.

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