I was inspired by the APOD for 6th August 2011 to search for Comet Garradd. I didn't know its exact track but knew it was near M15 a few days earlier, so I used my Canon 1000D camera fitted with a 70-300 zoom lens mounted on my LX200 to scan the sky around M15. It took some luck and time comparing my images to star maps, but I think I found it. Its magnitude was only about 8.5, which is well within my capabilities for a star, but a comet is an extended object and appears much fainter than its nominal magnitude.
The first three pictures below are cut from the full frame of 3888 x 2592 pixels. The last one is shrunk to fit.
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I started with a picture through the lens at 70 mm. Using approximate locations gleaned from a magazine, I was able to plot a rough trajectory on my picture and work out approximately where the comet should be. This drew me to the slightly fuzzy object indicated by the long dotted arrow. I have indicated my identifications of three of the brighter stars, (along with their magnitudes), as a guide to where this is. I was still uncertain I had found it. Date and Time: 7th August 2011 01:26 UT Camera: Canon 1000D Telescope: 70 mm Canon lens |
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I then turned to pictures I had taken with the lens at 300 mm around M15. I was lucky. In the top, right-hand corner of one I was able to identify the same fuzzy object in the same star field as I had determined in the first picture. I am confident this is indeed Comet Garradd, but final confirmation will be when we get another clear night and I can show that the object has moved. (Current forecasts are not hopeful.) Date and Time: 7th August 2011 01:22 UT Camera: Canon 1000D Telescope: 300 mm Canon lens |
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Two nights later was clear and I was able to take this picture of the same area as in the picture above. The fuzzy object has gone. (If you are not sure where to look, move your mouse pointer over the picture and the location will be revealed.) Date and Time: 9th August 2011 00:30 UT Camera: Canon 1000D Telescope: 300 mm Canon lens |
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So how far had it moved in 47 hours? This picture shows the comet as the fuzzy patch in the centre. Move your pointer over the image to see where it was two nights before indicated by the broken arrow and the curret position with a full arrow. Date and Time: 9th August 2011 00:37 UT Camera: Canon 1000D Telescope: 300 mm Canon lens |
My attempt to photograph the comet using my LX200 and DFK camera was unsuccessful. Having sync'ed the LX200 on Enif (Meade star 238) I estimated the coordinates of Comet Garradd as RA 21h 8m 5s Dec 14° 52' 50"; the Heavens Above web site gave the position as RA 21h 6.8m Dec 14° 55' at 0745 the next morning.