New Image: C/2022 E3 ZTF - green comet with red planet

[jon.s]

Here’s my third attempt at photographing comet C/2022 E3 ZTF. The shots were taken on February 11, but travel and work got in the way so I’m only done processing the image now!

Conditions were finally close to ideal. The comet was high in the southern sky after sunset and before moonrise. And even though the comet has dimmed a bit since its closest approach to Earth on Feb 1, the juxtaposition of the green comet and the red planet more than made up for it. Mars was less than 2 degrees away from the comet on this night.

The shots were taken at the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve, which is 2.5 hours north of Toronto. The fairly dark Bortle 3 sky there, plus the lack of moonlight, gave me the best capture of the faint ion tail in my three attempts.

Three images:
1. C/2022 E3 ZTF, Mars, and Tau Tauri in a triangular formation, 62 minutes total exposure. iOptron SkyGuider Pro, Canon EOS R, EF 100-400 II at 400 mm, f/5.6, 30 seconds subs at ISO 3200 and 800. Processed in DSS, Photoshop, Starnet++ 2, and Lightroom.
2. Closer crop of the comet alone
3. Single 30-second frame with a meteor photo-bombing the green comet

[messier 111]

superb photos , thx .

[Bigzmey]

Great captures Jon! Love the ionic trail.

[Makuser]

Hi Jon. A wonderful gallery of C/2022 E3 comet images. Excellent framing and contrast in all of them and the third capture features the comet, Mars, and the intruding meteor. Thanks for sharing these with us Jon and keep up the great imaging.

[Juno16]

Great images Jon!
Excellent photos and I really enjoyed your description!

[deci.bel]

Those are awesome! I love the complimentary colors in the shot with both the comet and Mars. It's so aesthetically pleasing!