Thursday, March 21, 2013

Improved Sighting of Comet Pan-Starrs Over Iowa


Tonight Comet Pan-Starrs hovered above the orange colors of sunset just west of Fairfax, Iowa. The comet moved almost 16 degrees north in three nights of observations. Pan-Starrs is still located only 10 - 15 degrees above the horizon, roughly an hour after sunset and requires binoculars to see. Photo specs: 13 sec exposure, ISO 400, 97 mm focal length, 8:32:56 PM CDT. Air temp was 25 F with little wind - much better than the past two evenings. For the latest information including where to locate the comet click here.

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for the photos and info about the comet. I just wrote a note to remind myself to look for it this evening.

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    1. The weather conditions on Friday and Saturday nights were cloudy here in Cedar Rapids - and I assume for you. Maybe after this current snow system cycles out you will get a better opportunity on Monday or Tuesday evening. Be sure to check the latest sky position charts (found at the link in my post) to help direct you to the comet as it and the earth are constantly moving.

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  2. Too bad; I missed it, but I do appreciate your photo, as well as the specs on the shot. I attended a camera class this morning, so it actally makes sense to me! :)

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    1. The comet is still traversing our neighborhood. Inlike meteors which zoom overhead in an instant, comets are much larger and take days and weeks to leave the sky. If weather conditions improve for you use the link in my post and find the comet in your skies. Yes, use a tripod for any photo over 1/30th second - otherwise you'll get wiggly images.

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