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When I observed C/2022 E3 (ZTF) for the first time on August 19, 2022, it was one of the faintest and smallest comets I ever logged. With 12.5 magnitude and 1’ size it required dark desert skies and large aperture of 9.25” Edge SCT at 73x to resolve the small faint teardrop shape.
When all the fuss started about the green comet, I did not realize we are talking about the same comet until I looked at my comet logs. With weather, life and Moon interfering, it took me awhile to revisit. Finally, yesterday when I arrived at home after work around 20:30 the Moon was still out, and the sky was clear.
I grabbed my 15x70 binos and lay down on the recliner in the backyard. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was riding near zenith, close to Al Kab (Iota Aur). I started with red Mars and moved the binos up to also red Al Kab. The comet was within a pentagon formed by white stars right below the red giant. It was a beautiful sight. The comet was bright (~6 mag), large (~15’) and full of features. Well-structured coma was of ragged wide oval shape with brightness gradually decreasing from compact nucleus to the edge. There was even a short chubby triangular tale better resolved with averted vision. As your typical comets go it was a first-class comet.
Nice description and report Andrey. Excellent comparison of both the comet at a great distance and now, up close. Congratulations on attaining the VROD for the day!
-Michael Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
Hi Andrey. A great observing report of C/2022 E3 using your binoculars. I am glad that you got another chance to view this comet again while brighter now and showing more details. Thanks for your excellent report Andrey and congratulations on receiving the TSSVROD Award today.
Marshall
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
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