Fantastic images of Lulin!

Latest updates on the chase of this comet below (click 'Read More')....

Comet 2007/N3 Lulin seems to be a good Mag 4-5 object which is not easy to spot with binoculars at present in Cancer.  Attempts to picture it have however largely been thwarted by the lack of good viewing opportunities afforded by the weather recently! Despite clear visibility on the night of the 5th of March, the Moon is starting to be too bright for comet hunting.

This picture taken 27th Feb gives some idea of the target, but this was taken in partially clouded conditions; so there is possibly better to come.

Comet Lulin by Paul Cheesman

The above picture was taken with a DSLR (single exposure of 2 minutes) at prime focus using a 200mm SNT on an un-guided LZD75 mount.

Lulin is currently in Cancer and is heading along the ecliptic to Gemini.

Here is Paul's latest sequence of shots:

Lulin Animation (27th Feb 2009) - Paul Cheesman

This is a composite of 8 shots taken between 22:46 and 23:27 hours on the 27th of Feb.  It clearly shows Lulin moving against the star background.

Any better shots please contact the webmaster (and we will put them up here).

Here are some other attempts:

Comet Lulin 27th Feb - Noel Clark

This image was taken between clouds. It was taken on a 90mm APO with a DSLR, mounted on an unguided (but motorised) mount.  30 seconds at ISO 1600 + half an hour mucking about in Photoshop elements 5.0.

Comet Lulin 4th March - Ian Hargraves

Taken  on a Celestron C11 using a Starlight Xpress MX7, multiple exposures (tracking the comet), however some frames were dropped (due to a snow storm) leading to the dotted lines.

Noel