Comet McNaught 2007

10.1.2007

At 16:50:07
6 s, f/8, ISO 100
Camera: Canon EOS 5D & EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Despite of several aproaching clouds, I headed for the local observatory to check if the famous comet McNaught was really visible this time. Several days had been too cloudy to even dream about the comet. Even this time the clouds were so near that we had nearly lost all hope to see the comet. But there it was over the city.

Partial crop of a 300mm picture.

12.1.2007

At 16.12
12.1. McNaught was easily visible with binoculars even before the Sun had hidden itself behind the horizon. This time the comet was a bit closer to the Sun and somewhat more difficult to notice in the bright sky.

At 16.11
Partial crop of a 300mm picture.

It was a pitty this cutie wasn't visible on the dark night sky here in Finland. I remember clearly how beautiful the two last spectalular comets Hale-Bopp ans Hyakutake were at the end of 90's.

Comet chasers Pekka Rautajoki and Laura Terho started to observe some deep-sky objects when the comet McNaught was covered with clouds.

Images: Emma Herranen