Comet observing in freezing weather 4./5.12.2021

Date: 4./5.12.2021Time: 04:00-05:30 UTObserving site: Koivuranta, Kokemäki, FinlandInstrument: N250/1200 mmSQM: 21.23-20.15Weather: clear sky, very cold breeze, -16 °C, a little bit of snow on the ground, no MoonObjects observed: C/2021 A1 (Leonard) and 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko I recently wrote about time lapse video and startrail photo that I made in early December in little bit chilly …

Comet C/2020 M3 (ATLAS) visually

Date: 21./22.11.2020Time: 22:00 UTObserving site: Kokemäki, FinlandInstrument: Newton 250/1200 mm SQM: 21.14Weather: Clear sky, calm, no snow, no Moon Objects observed: comet C/2020 M3 (ATLAS) During the weekend gathering of amateur astronomy club Porin Karhunvartijat we were able to do a lot of observing! I was doing some film astrophotography experimenting, and also some visual …

Summer comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)

Date: 11./12.7.2020 Time: 22:00-22:15 UT Observing site: Stormälö, Parainen, Finland Instrument: 10x50 binoculars, N250/1200 mm (10'' Newton) SQM: - Weather: Clear sky, nautical twilight Objects observed: comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) In summer of 2020 a fine comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) brightened up as expected and became a naked eye object where sky was dark enough. …

C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) – a comet that disintegrated

Date: 10./11.4.2020Time: 21:20UTObserving site: Leistilänjärvi, Nakkila, FinlandInstrument: N250/1200 mm SQM: 21.01Weather: Clear sky, calm, no Moon, no snow, -2C Objects observed: comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) During the night between 10th and 11th of April 2020 I was doing some film astrophotography experiments and for example photographed planet Venus in Taurus constellation. Besides these astrophotography activities, …

Comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS)

Date: 14./15.2.2020 Time: 18:15UT Observing site: Ulvila Observatory, Finland Instrument: C280/2750 mm (11” Catadioptric) SQM: 20.48 Weather: Clear sky, calm, no Moon, no snow, 0C Objects observed: Comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) In mid-February I was able to observe comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS), that was visible in early 2020 in Northern hemisphere. Perihelion of this comet …

Observing comet 46P/Wirtanen

Date: 05./06.12.2018 Time: 23:00 Observing site: Preiviiki, Pori, Finland Instrument: N250/1200 mm NELM: 5.4 SQM: 20.65 Darkness of the background sky: 3 Seeing: – Transparency: – Weather: clear sky, fresh western wind, no Moon, no snow, +3 C Objects observed: comet 46P/Wirtanen Finally I was able to observe comet 46P/Wirtanen after several unsuccessfull attempts! I …

Comet Lovejoy observed in harsh winter conditions

Date: 11./12.1.2015 Time: 18:00-18:30 Observing site: Kurkijärvi, Kuusamo, Finland Instrument: L102/1200mm (4” refractor) NELM: 5.7 SQM: 20.50 Darkness of the background sky: 3 Seeing: 2 Transparency: 3 Weather: Mostly clear but somewhat hazy sky, cold breeze, -20 C Objects observed: C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is now well visible in the night sky …

Comet Jaqcues and a planetary nebula

Date: 23./24.8.2014 Time: 23:30-01:20 Observing site: Tähtikallio observatory, Finland Instrument: C416/4064mm (16'' Meade) NELM: 5.3 SQM: 21.00 Darkness of the background sky: 3 Seeing: 2 Transparency: 3 Weather: Some haze in the sky, occasional clouds, calm, no Moon, pretty warm Objects observed: C/2014 E2 (Jaqcues), NGC 6905 During the night between 23rd and 24th of …

Observing comet Lovejoy

Date: 30.11/1.12.2013 Time: 20:00-21:10 Observing site: Uittamo, Turku, Finland Instrument: L102/1000mm NELM: 5.3 SQM: 19.51 Darkness of the background sky: 4 Seeing: 2 Transparency: 1 Weather: Clear sky, -6 °C, calm, no Moon, no aurorae Objects observed: C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy), R Lyr, mu Cep, rho Cas, Psi 1 Aur, eta Gem Unfortunately comet ISON didn't …