Comet C/2026 A1 MAPS
in the Evening sky in Eridanus
3/8/26

 

            
In under a month, this
            comet which is extremely small and dim at 11th magnitude now,
            will be rounding the Sun and MAY become a brilliant object in
            the evening sky. Or it could fall apart when it gets to the Sun
            and do nothing. We shall see. Here, I was just barely able to
            get a few quick 30s frames on the comet in bright twilight before
            it set behind our house. The problem is I cant see west from
            the backyard observatory, so catching this one just before it
            ducked behind was quite a challenge!

            
Ill be shooting this
            with my portable setup next time, which can see the western sky
            clearly. Stay tuned.

            


            -FOV: 94' x 75'

            -Orientation: N up

            -Seeing: 2

            -Transparency: 6

            -Orig. Scale: 1.2 arcsec/Pixel

            -Instrument: 10" f/3.8 Newt

            -Exposure: 5.5 min total

            -Camera: Atik 16200

            -Location: Payson,AZ

            
Select an image size for a larger view:

1600 x 1200
            



            
Select an image size for a larger view:

1600 x 1200
            


Scope:  10" f/3.9 Orion Astrograph Newtonian + Baader MPCC 2 coma corrector
Camera: Atik 16200 CCD
Platform:  Astrophysics AP1200
Exposure:  5.5 mins LRGB
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing  5/10, Transparency 6/10
Outside Temperature:  65F
Processing Tools:  PI, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS2
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