David's Astronomy Pages (Solar System)
Comets - 2013

Comet Images (2013) This page summarises observations and images of comets in 2013
Bullet 2P/Encke (Nov 2013)
Bullet 63P/Wild  (Mar 2013)
Bullet 102P/Shoemaker  (Nov 2013) (Attempt)
Bullet 154P/Brewington  (Oct - Nov 2013)
Bullet 273P/Pons-Gambart (Apr 2013)
   
Bullet C/2009 P1 (Garradd) (2011- Mar 2013)
Bullet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) (Mar - Apr 2013)
Bullet C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)  (Oct 2013)
Bullet C/2012 L2 (LINEAR) (Feb - Mar 2013)
Bullet C/2012 S1 (ISON) (Nov 2012 - 2013+)
Bullet C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) (Oct 2013)
Bullet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) (Nov - Dec 2013)

2P/Encke - Oct 2023

2P/Encke
(Passing through starfield in Virgo. Sun Distance 0.61 AU) 

Image

Stacked CCD Image (60% size, cropped)
19 x 10 sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 3x3 binning, C filter 
2013-11-01 06:14hUT (#552081-102)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
 

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63P/Wild - (Mar 2013)

63P/Wild  
(moving through starfield in Leo
Sun Distance +1.97 AU

Image
Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
5 x 30 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-03-11 22:37hUT (#541333-37)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

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102P/Shoemaker - Oct 2023 (Attempt)

102P/Shoemaker - 2013-11-01
(Passing through starfield in Pegasus)
Comet (forecast/catalog mag +13.1, Sun Distance 2.03 AU) not visible 
in this image with limiting mag of around +18

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
4  x 60 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter
2013-11-01 20:18hUT (#552291-95)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
 

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154P/Brewington - Oct 2013

154P/Brewington
(Passing through starfield in Aquarius. Sun Distance 1.74 AU)

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
4 x 60 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-11 20:23hUT (#547250-53)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
 

154P/Brewington- 2013-10-12
(Passing through starfield in Aquarius. Sun Distance 1.74 AU)
Bright star is HIP 108506 (mag +6.2)

Estimated magnitude of comet is +14

Image

CCD Image (50% size)
5 x 60 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-12 20:39hUT (#548123-27)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
Image details as above

154P/Brewington - 2013-10-27
(Passing through starfield in Aquarius. Sun Distance 1.68 AU)
Estimated magnitude of comet is +14.5 to +15

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
3 x 60 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-27 22:02hUT (#551011-16)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

 

154P/Brewington - 2013-11-01
(Passing through starfield in Aquarius. Sun Distance 1.67 AU)
Bright star adjacent to comet is GSC 558:1654 (mag +9.4)
Estimated magnitude of comet is +14-15

Image

CCD Image (cropped)
5 x 60 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter 
2013-11-01 20:10hUT (#552284-88)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
 

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273P/Pons-Gambart - Apr 2013

273P/Pons-Gambart
(passing through starfield in Bootes)
Sun Distance 1.96 AU

Image

Stacked CCD Image (aligned on comet, cropped)
5 x 45 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-04-05  21:46h UT (#545087-91)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

273P/Pons-Gambart
(showing motion over 4 minute interval)

Image

Stacked CCD Image (aligned on stars, cropped)
Image details as above

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C/2009 P1 (Garradd) -  2011 to Mar 2013

C/2009 P1 (Garradd) 
(moving through starfield in Hydra)
Comet is barely visible, Sun Distance 5.3 AU

Image
CCD Image (cropped)
4 x 30 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-03-11 20:31hUT (#541206-10)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

 

C/2009 P1 (Garradd)  - Earlier Image from 2012 
(moving through starfield in Ursa Major)
Sun Distance 2.0 AU

Image
CCD Image (50% size)
5 x 30 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2012-03-26 21:59 h UT  (#507042-46)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

 

C/2009 P1 (Garradd)  - Earlier Image from 2011
(moving through starfield in Sagitta)

Image
CCD Image (50% size)
30 sec exposure (single frame), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2011-08-25 21:25 h UT  (#477009)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

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C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) - Mar-Apr 2013

 

C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) - 2013-03-29 
Moving through star field in Andromeda

Image

Image

CCD Image Animation (Logscale, 50% size)
3 x 10s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-03-29 20:19hUT (#543021-23)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

False Colour Image (Logscale, 50% size)
Image details as right

     

C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) - 2013-04-01 
Moving through star field in Andromeda

Image

Image

CCD Image Animation (Logscale, 50% size)
5 x 10s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-04-01 20:04hUT (#544001-05)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

False Colour Image (Logscale, 50% size)
Image details as right

  

C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) - 2013-04-05
Moving through star field in Andromeda

Image

Image

CCD Image Animation (Logscale, 50% size)
5 x 10s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-04-05 20:21hUT (#545001-05)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

False Colour Image (Logscale, 50% size)
Image details as right

  

  

     

 

C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)  - 2013-03-29
Image animation showing motion over 16min period

Image

CCD Image Animation (Logscale, 50% size)
3 frames each 3 x 10s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-03-29 20:19h, 20:27h, 20:35hUT (#543021-32)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

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C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) - Oct 2013

C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) - 2013-10-11
(Passing through starfield in Draco. Sun Distance 3.20 AU)

Image

CCD Image ( cropped)
5 x 60 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-11 20:35hUT (#547266-70)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
 

C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) - 2013-10-12
(Passing through starfield in Draco. Sun Distance 3.22 AU)
Est. Mag +13.5

Image

CCD Image ( cropped)
4 x 60 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-12 21:18hUT (#548174-78)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) - 2013-10-15
(Passing through starfield in Draco. Sun Distance 3.25 AU)

Image

CCD Image ( cropped)
5 x 60 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-15 21:48hUT (#549173-77)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

 

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C/2012 L2 (LINEAR) - Feb-Mar 2013

C/2012 L2 (LINEAR) - (2013-03-11)
(moving through starfield in Aries)
Sun Distance +1.7 AU

Image
Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
4 x 30 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-03-11 21:03hUT (#541236-40)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

  

C/2012 L2 (LINEAR) -  (2013-02-27)
(moving through starfield in Perseus)
Sun Distance +1.79 AU

Image
Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
5 x 30 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-02-27 21:48hUT (#540129-33)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

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C/2012 S1 (ISON)  -  (Nov 2012 - 2013+)

C/2012 S1 (ISON) - Early Image 2012-11-11
(moving through starfield in Gemini)
Comet at 5.75 AU distance from sun / i.e beyond the orbit of Jupiter

Image
Annotated CCD Image (100% size, cropped)
5  x 180s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2012-11-11 04:22 hUT (#524411-15)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
 

C/2012 S1 (ISON) - 2013-02-27
(moving through starfield in Gemini)
Comet at 4.63 AU distance from sun / i.e. just inside the orbit of Jupiter

Image
Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
7 x 90 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-02-27 21:38hUT (#540120-26)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
 

C/2012 S1 (ISON) - 2013-03-11
(moving through starfield in Gemini)
Comet at 4.49 AU distance from sun / i.e. just inside the orbit of Jupiter

Image
Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
5 x 90 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-03-11 20:52hUT (#541227-33)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

C/2012 S1 (ISON) - 2013-11-01
(moving through starfield in Leo)
Comet at 0.99 AU distance from sun

Image
CCD Image (cropped)
3 x 10 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-11-01 05:40hUT (#552023-25)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

Image
Stacked CCD ImageÂ(70% size)
28 x 10 sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 3x3 binning, C Filter 
2013-11-01 05:38 to 05:48hUT (#552020-49)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

C/2012 S1 (ISON) - no more, 2013-12-20
circle shows the area where comet ISON should have been if it it 
hadn't broken up during its passage around the Sun

Image
CCD Image (70% size)
90 sec exposure (single frame), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2013-12-20 06:22hUT (#557316)
12" LX200R  (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME

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C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) - Oct 2013

C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) 
(Passing through starfield in Coma Berenicies. Sun Distance 2.25 AU)

Located around 450 million km from Earth, Comet C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) has undergone an explosive eruption sometime around 
21st Oct (2013-10-21). Amateur astronomers report that it underwent a 100-fold increase in the comet's brightness 
compared to its predicted brightness.  (Spaceweather.com  page for 2013-10-22)
The comet's atmosphere or "coma" now resembles that of exploding Comet 17P/Holmes in 2007.  

Image below was taken  2013-10-23.76 UT.
(Conditions : windy and poor seeing)

Image

CCD Image ( cropped)
26 x 10 sec exposure (average combine, aligned on stars), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-23 18:20hUT (#550033-68)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME

  

C/2012 X1 (LINEAR), detail 

Image

Image
CCD Image, Linear Scale (cropped)
26 x 10 sec exposure (average combine, aligned on comet), 
3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-23 18:20hUT (#550033-68)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
Processed CCD Image, Rotational Gradient (20 deg)
Image details as left

  

Comparison between C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) and 17P/Holmes at similar times after explosive eruption
C/2012 X1 (LINEAR), 2013-10-23  17P/Holmes, 2007-10-25

Image

Image
CCD Image, Linear Scale (55% & cropped)
26 x 10 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter, 
2013-10-23 18:20hUT (#550033-68)
12" LX200R  (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
CCD Image, Log Scale
5 x 10s exposure (average combine), 
2x2 binning, C Filter, 
2007-10-25 20:45h UT (#227055-59)

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C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) - Nov-Dec 2013

C/2013 R1 Lovejoy -  2013-11-01
(Passing through starfield in Cancer. Sun Distance 1.24 AU)

Image

Stacked CCD Image (50% size)
3 x 10 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter
2013-11-01 06:23hUT (#552110-14)
12" LX200R (at f/9.7) + ST-10XME
 

C/2013 R1 Lovejoy - detail 2013-11-01
(Passing through starfield in Cancer. Sun Distance 1.24 AU)

Image 
CCD Image (100% size, cropped)
Image details as above 
 

C/2013 R1 Lovejoy -  2013-12-20
(Passing through starfield in Hercules)
. Sun Distance 0.81 AU)

Image 
CCD Image (Square root scaling, 75% size)
3 x 30 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter
2013-12-20 05:47hUT (#557262-64)
12" LX200R  (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
 

C/2013 R1 Lovejoy - Detail 2013-12-20

Image 
CCD Image (linear scale, cropped)
46 x 10 sec exposure (aligned on comet, average combine), 3x3 binning, C filter
2013-12-20 06:00hUT (#557265-312)
12" LX200R  (at f/10.4) + ST-10XME
 
Image 
CCD Image (radial gradient, cropped)
Image details as above
 

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