r/comets

Description from Lucy Yunxi Hu

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=26940560955596290&set=a.6281127298632958

​ " ​This image shows Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) crossing the Orion over four nights in May 2026 from dark-sky locations near Canberra, Australia. The sequence captures the comet gradually fading after perihelion as its ion tail becomes fainter and more diffuse over time.

The widefield background is a multi-night panorama of the Orion region, featuring Barnard’s Loop, M42, the Horsehead Nebula, and surrounding molecular clouds. Due to weather limitations, the four comet positions were captured from two locations near Canberra and later aligned to the surrounding star field to preserve the comet’s relative motion across the sky.

I spent around eight nights outside after work over the past two weeks trying to capture Comet C/2025 R3. I even met some amateurs by chance on some nights. This is, in many ways, my very first deep-sky astrophotography project after spending time learning astrophotography, and definitely not an easy one for me (lots to improve!). There were many new techniques and skills to learn, along with unstable weather on several nights. Despite all the challenges, seeing the comet gradually move through Orion over multiple nights was honestly quite magical! Clear skies!

EXIF:

Dates: May 7, 9, 11, and 12, 2026 (corresponding to the comet positions from lowest to highest in the image).

​Locations: Colinton, NSW, Australia (near South Canberra) for the two lower comet positions, and Gundaroo, NSW, Australia (near North Canberra) for the two upper comet positions.

​Gear: Benro Polaris + Canon R5 + Canon EF 135mm prime lens. RGB: f/2.0–2.2, ISO1600, multiple 30s exposures over multiple nights (plus several 5s and 2s exposures for M42 core).

​Ha: f/2.0–2.2, ISO1600–6400, multiple 30s exposures over multiple nights. Processed using PixInsight, Sequator, RegiStar, and Photoshop​ "

''Imaged here using a OSC camera & Antlia ALP-T dual narrow band filter as a bit of an experiment.

From Bruce Charlier:

"I used Bill Blanshan's 'Star Reduction' script in Pix to really let the nebulosity do much of the talking in this image.

11 X 180s subs, Antlia ALP-T filter, ASI6200MC Pro, Rokinon 135mm lens (atop my main scope), AP1200GTO CP4. Star Field, S. Wairarapa, NZ. Imaged @ '2026-05-12T07:00:01.630' UTC"

Source

''May 10, 2026
Nelson, New Zealand

Canon 6D 200mm f3.5 70x20sec iso1600. DSS Siril Startools''

Source

Sky & landscape were composited using Sony 135GM lens. 2 photos taken at same time & focal length were processed separately & then merged.

The sky using an equatorial mount w 54 frames, 30s tracking exposures, & composition was rotated. This image has a more artistic element.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/casastronomy/permalink/26646358791692974/?rdid=Z0r7w4yDV8wmSXu0#​

May 6, 2026

Farm Tivoli, Namibia

🔭: ASA Astrograph 12" f3.6 📸: ZWO ASI 6200 MM Pro Mount: ASA DDM 85 Exp.Time: LRGB 12/6/6/6 min. ea

https://www.facebook.com/groups/227002358661288/permalink/1759853905376118/