Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise

31-07-2020 01:00h The two main pictures (color and bw negative). The small inset is from pictures taken on 01-08-2020 01:00h Samyang f=85 mm, f/2.8, T=50x10 sec, ISO 1600

01-08-2010 01:30h Samyang objective f=85 mm, f/2.8, T= 16x5 sec, ISO 1600 On July 31, Aug 1 Neowise passed the Hair of Berenice, a nice star cluster near the constellation Leo. A good moment to say farewel to Neowise. A hair-raising story Berenice was a real person who, in 246 BC, married her cousin, Ptolemy III Euergetes (Hyginus says she was his sister, but that was a different Berenice). Berenice was reputedly a great horsewoman who had already distinguished herself in battle. Hyginus, who deals with the star group under Leo in his Poetic Astronomy, tells the following story. It seems that shortly after their marriage (Hyginus says a few days, but in reality it was a few months) Ptolemy set out to attack Asia on the Third Syrian War. Berenice vowed that if he returned victorious she would cut off her hair in gratitude to the gods. On Ptolemy’s safe return the following year, the relieved Berenice carried out her promise and placed her hair in the temple dedicated to her mother Arsinoë (identified after her death with Aphrodite) at Zephyrium near the modern Aswan. But the following day the tresses were missing. What really happened to them is not recorded, but Conon of Samos (c.280–c.220 BC), a mathematician and astronomer who worked at Alexandria, pointed out the group of stars near the tail of the lion, telling the king that the hair of Berenice had gone to join the constellations.

I was lucky that I started early. It looked very promising but within half an hour heavy clouds made Neowise invisible. Neowise is not visible with the naked eye anymore

From 11/7 until 22/7/2020 Neowise was visible by the naked eye, on 27/7 not anymore. (The PiP's show larger pictures). After that it's without binoculars not so easy. Photographically it is the comming days still "easy" to find. When you can clearly see the Big Dipper point your camera ~halfway between the Big Dipper and the horizon. Use a tripod, ISO 1600, f~50mm, f/2,8 and T> 1 sec, focus mannualy. Once you found the comet you can zoom in and choose better settings. I want to thank everyone for the fine comments on the pictures of the comet and the many ******. For me, obviously, it was great to witness such a nice comet.

22-07-2020 01:45h. For the sake of lowering noise I combined 5 exposures. The meteor was visible (obviously) on only one exposure of 30 sec.. Canon 700 D Sigma f=50mm, f/2,8, T=5x30 sec, ISO 800

22-07-2020 02:15h Canon 700D Sigma f=50 mm, f/2,8, T=50x30 sec, ISO 1600, cropped. The lower picure is a negative of the BW version of the upper picture. This brings out the details better. Tomorow 23-07-2020 comet Neowise will be at its nearest distance to the earth

21-07-2020 00:30h and 01:00h Left: Canon 700D, Samyang f=85 mm, f/2.8, T=50x15 sec, ISO 800 Shows extend of gas and dust tail Right: Canon 700D, Tamron f=200 mm, f/2.8. T=45x14 sec, ISO 800 area indicated in left picture Shows greenish colour of the coma and the movement of the comet in 9 minutes

21-07-2020 00:00h A clear night was forecasted. Took the fotografic gear and off to the mill near Ter Apel. Neowise still easily visible by naked eye and easy to find. Canon 700 D with Sigma DC 17-50: f=18mm, f/4 T=7x10 sec, ISO 800. Foreground is from one exposure.

17-07-2020 01:00h A BW picture. The gas and dust tail are both clearly visible Canon 700D Samyang objective, f=85 mm, f/2.8, T=20x15 sec, ISO 800