Astronomy Highlights

Gear Up:

• Camera: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls is ideal.

• Lens: A telephoto lens (200mm or more) will bring out the comet's details but you’ll ideally need a star tracker to take longer exposures. A focal length of about 50mm will still capture it and enable exposures of around 5 seconds.

• Tripod: Essential for long exposures and keeping your camera steady.

• Remote Shutter Release or timer delay (optional): Minimizes camera shake during exposure.

• Intervalometer or time lapse mode (optional): Useful for capturing a series of images that can then be “stacked” later.

Finding the Comet: (details based on a Peak District location, UK)

• Online Resources: I recommend using the free Stellarium mobile app or their website or other mobile apps like SkySafari to help you locate Comet Pons-Brooks in the night sky.

• Look slightly north of West: The comet will be visible low above the west-northwest horizon during the first hour after sunset.

• Timing is key:  The comet is already getting low in the sky. It will be at a height of around 17° by nightfall, dropping to 8° after an hour and then setting about another hour later. 

Tonight (27th March) the best time is 8pm to 9pm. After the clocks change the best time will be from around 9:15pm to 10:15pm. 

After 10th April it won't really be going dark until after 9:30pm, the moon is returning and the comet will then be less than 5° above the horizon so visibility will be poor from here on.

• See in the dark: Head somewhere dark if possible. Give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness (ideally 20 minutes), and you'll have a better chance of spotting the faint comet. If you have a torch with a red bulb this will protect your night vision.

Photography Tips:

• Manual Mode: Take control of your camera settings for optimal results.

• Exposure: Experiment with exposure times (starting around 5 seconds for a 50mm lens) to capture the comet's details without blowing out the background.

• Avoid star trails:  As the Earth is rotating the stars (and comet) are slowly moving across the sky. The longest exposure with a 50mm lens to still have pinpoint stars is about 5 seconds. With a 200mm lens it’s less than 2 seconds.

• ISO: A higher ISO (around 1600 or higher) will increase light sensitivity but can introduce noise. Find the right balance for your shot unless stacking multiple images.

• Focus: Use manual focus and live view to ensure the comet is sharp. I tend to focus my camera and lens in daylight on a distant object or cloud and then switch off autofocus and apply a piece of tape to stop the focus being rotated.

• Stacking: Taking multiple exposures and stacking them in post-processing software will produce much better results, reveal fainter details and vastly reduce the grainy noise. There are a number of free software tools such as Deep Sky Stacker, Sequator and SiriL that can stack your images.

Bonus!

• Book a night with me: at www.peakastronomy.com and I’ll teach you what you need to know and we can also use my equipment if you wish.

• Compose Your Shot: Think about incorporating foreground elements like landscapes or buildings for a more dramatic image especially for a 50mm lens.

• Dark Skies are Best: If possible, travel to a location with minimal light pollution for the clearest views.

• Share Your Work: Join online astrophotography communities to share your captures and learn from others.
  
  

Remember: Weather permitting, this is your chance to capture a unique celestial visitor. So, grab your camera, head out under the stars, and see if you can snag that picture-perfect shot of Comet Pons-Brooks!