12P/Pons-Brooks 2024-Mar-26 Dan Bartlett

_12P_Pons_Brooks_RASA8_asi2600mcP_31x30sec_2024_03_26203326PDT_JuneLake_California_USA_DEBartlett

The comet is nearly gone from my area as it slips into evening twilight. Here is a mere 16 and a half minutes salvageable frames using an APS-C sensor and a RASA8. In fact this is the final image this scope will ever take as a storm toppled the scope shattering the corrector plate and snapping off the FT focuser. It was a fine scope allowing me to be recognized for my first NASA APOD back in 2020.

The tail disconnect can be easily seen as a near break in the extended plasma tail.

I took a peek through a pair of image stabilized Binos at 18 x and Comet 12P was an easy to find and see object. No star hopping necessary , just look in the general location and the comet was readily seen. It appeared as a large diffuse object with a bright condensed central region. A slight upward tail extension made the comet look asymmetrical. Sweeping over to the Andromeda galaxy to compare and the comet was impressionably brighter but less than a third to have the galaxy's size. I could not pick the comet up without aid, however the comet was skirting the mountain ridges at the time, so it wasn't a fair attempt.

A single 30 second sub is provided for your enjoyment!

Full Resolution Image:
https://astrob.in/uik2vx/B/


Observational details:
Backyard setup
scope: RASA8 fl400mm D203mm
exposure: 33 x 30 sec
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency 7/10
Observer: DEBartlett
Place: June Lake_California USA


Image Info (Fully Processed images):
Projection ............... Gnomonic
Projection origin ........ [1019.651508 1497.909125] px -> [RA: 1 51 04.420 Dec: +26 48 42.77]
Resolution ............... 3.885 arcsec/px
Rotation ................. 18.725 deg
Reference system ......... ICRS
Observation start time ... 2024-03-27 03:15:37 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2024-03-27 03:46:20 UTC
Geodetic coordinates ..... 119 04 46 W 37 46 51 N 2360 m
Focal distance ........... 399.15 mm
Pixel size ............... 7.52 um
Field of view ............ 2d 11' 57.7" x 3d 13' 51.7"
Image center ............. RA: 1 51 04.421 Dec: +26 48 42.77 ex: -0.021323 px ey: +0.023306 px
Image bounds:
top-left .............. RA: 1 58 07.832 Dec: +27 58 32.29 ex: -1.164808 px ey: -1.132424 px
top-right ............. RA: 1 48 42.300 Dec: +28 41 14.11 ex: +0.469531 px ey: -1.231542 px
bottom-left ........... RA: 1 53 21.398 Dec: +24 55 54.96 ex: -1.283595 px ey: +1.341363 px
bottom-right .......... RA: 1 44 08.789 Dec: +25 37 23.16 ex: +0.445427 px ey: +0.067822 px