Comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS)

[KathyNS]

Comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS)
This is the first time I have done proper comet processing with RGB filters on a fast-moving comet. It's harder than it looks. I am not sure if the red colour in the tail is genuine, or an artifact of processing.

Orion 200mm f/4 Newtonian
Atik 383L+

16ea 60s RGB, 2x2

[Juno16]

Alright! Fine image Kathy!

[Thefatkitty]

Wow, that's just brilliant Kathy! Natural or not, the red really enhances the tail. Not sure how you did it, but the whole picture just conveys "motion"; I don't know how else to put it

Great post to have my coffee over, thanks!

All the best,

[KathyNS]

the whole picture just conveys "motion";

After all the work I did to get it to stand still for the photo! LOL!

Glad you like it.

[TheButcher]

Very nice Kathy!

[KingClinton]

Great comet image Kathy!

I see a few images being posted on twitter claiming that the tail does have colour, so it's not a artifact, well done!

[Peter802]

Nice capture Kathy.

[KathyNS]

Here is a reprocess of the image. Still learning how to do comets. This version has better noise control.

[KathyNS]

Another reporocess.

I am still not happy with my mask generation. PI's comet registration generates too much noise not to use a mask, but getting the mask right, especially with that bright star so close to the comet's head is tricky. And the results seem to be very dependent on monitor calibration or lack thereof. What looks good on my processing computer doesn't look so good on my web surfing computer.