Scope Diagram Astrocamera.Net - Astrophotography by Dave Kodama

C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)


This was my first attempt to photograph Comet ATLAS (C/2019 Y4). Conditions were poor. Heavy clouds prevented photography (and viewing) until after 2AM. This stacked sequence was interrupted by more clouds and high humidity around 3:30AM. By this time, the comet was only about 22° above the horizon (see chart below) and well into the urban light pollution NW of my position. This was somewhat alleviated by the use of the IDAS EOA-1 multi-band filter which includes the major comet emission lines as well as common nebula emission lines.


Chart generated by Sky Safari

Photo info
  • Date/Time: 4 Apr. 2020 ~10:15 UT (03:15 PDT)
  • Location: Vanishing Point Observatory
  • Camera: ASI 1600 MC Cool, Gain=300 (50%), Temp.=0°C
  • Exposure: 22 x 30 sec.
  • Lens: AP 155 (f/7), Borg 1.04x flattener
  • Filter: IDAS EOA-1
  • Mount: Losmandy Titan
  • Guiding: none
  • Image Processing: Nebulosity/Photoshop/Lightrooom
... and a bit of a "bonus." Earlier in the evening, I felt an earthquake rattle the area (M=4.9), followed by 3-4 aftershocks which I could feel distinctly. Here's what I recorded of the main shock at my home seismometer which is about 150km from the epicenter.


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