C/2006 M4 (Swan)
Comet C/2006 M4 (Swan) has brightened significantly over the past few days and is now around vmag 4.5 or so. It is quite large, bright, and easy to find in 10×50 binoculars even in light polluted skies.
Image taken with Celestron Nexstar 11 telescope, Meade F3.3 focal reducer, and Astrovid Stellacam II around 8 to 8:15pm last evening from Louisville, CO. Stellacam set to integrate 64 frames (2 seconds), medium gamma, and 9/14 gain. Aligned and stacked with Registax3. Enhanced and cropped with ImagePlus. Sky was clear, no wind, transparency very good, turbulence 5 to 6/10, and temperature 50°F.
October 26th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Once again…another beauty!!.I have yet to get a break in the weather to look for this comet and with the weather forcast for this weekend.It looks like it won’t happen in the near future.So keep the images coming!!.
Andrew
October 26th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
We\’re clouded out here today and have about 8 inches of snow but its supposed to clear later tonight and the rest of the weekend. Reports from those who have seen it from a dark sky site indicate that it is now naked eye visible and has about a 1 degree long tail.