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Andy | all galleries >> solar_system >> Comets >> Comet PanSTARRS (C/2014 Q1) > The many tails of Comet PanSTARRS
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21-July-15 Andy Casely

The many tails of Comet PanSTARRS

Loftus, NSW

C/2014 Q1 PanSTARRS made a nice appearance in the southern hemisphere dusk in July. It sported quite a collection of tails as well!

Three thin bluish gas tail streamers streak to the upper left, the lower of which is composed of two parts, the main central long gas tail has a bright patch at the upper left (from a tail disconnection event?), and a short streak of a third gas streamer near the nucleus.

A broad yellowish dust tail composed of two overlapping envelopes points in the same direction, around the gas tails. And another dust tail points at right-angles to the upper right, before sweeping upwards away from the comet.

Stars are trailed due to the comet's motion, and the field is about 1 degree tall (twice the Moon's width).

Canon EOS 60D
100 x 15 seconds unguided, ISO800, 150mm Newtonian on HEQ5pro mount. Stacked on the comet's nucleus. Processed in PixInsight and Photoshop. full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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