The members of the NWFAA spread out across the panhandle to get a view of comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS). Discovered by University of Hawai’i astronomers in June 2011 using the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System the comet appears to be on it’s first pass through the solar system. It has been in view from the southern hemisphere since discovery. Only after perihelion on the 10th of March has the comet been easily viewable from the northern hemisphere.
Dave Halupowski – 12 Mar 2013
Dave took this from the Tom’s Bayou bridge in Valparaiso. The comet is just visible as a light streak slightly higher than the moon and about half-way between the moon and the left edge of the photo.
James Dubben – 12 Mar 2013
James headed to the north shore of Choctawhatchee Bay at White Point to take advantage of the very low horizon. He used a Canon EOS 60D to take the 1/13 second image.
Dennis Hausch – 12 Mar 2013
Dennis also headed down to Tom’s bayou. He waited until just before the moon dropped below the tree line for this image.
Ken Sharp – 12 Mar 2013
Ken Sharp – 12 Mar 2013
Ken has probably taken the most artistic shot of PANSTARRS so far. He also took some exposures through his telescope.
Tom Haugh – 12 Mar 2013
Tom went the opposite direction than most of the others to find a low western horizon and headed north to just south of I-10. Tom used a tripod mounted Nikon D-50 for the 3 second exposure.