Extra Physics Photo - Comet ZTF Feb 3

 Comet ZTF on Feb 3, 2023 from College View Observatory

 

A group of students suggested by a WWC faculty member gathered at my invitation to come to College View Observatory to take images of the comet: ( C/2022 E3 (ZTF)).  The designation ZTF means the Zwicky Transient Facility which received credit for its discovery in 2022.  C/2022 E3 is a serial designation assigned by the International Astronomical Union.

 The photo posted above was taken with a DSLR camera mounted on a small telescope (80 mm diameter) with assistance from several of the attendees.  We had to operate the camera practically lying on our backs at the back end of the telescope.  Because the comet was high in the sky near the zenith the space to see the comet in the camera's viewfinder was very close to the floor of the observatory.  Clicking on the photo will take you to a larger zoomed-in image.  Anyone may download a copy of the image from this blog for personal use or to share with friends.  Notice the greenish color of the tail and coma using the color camera.

The temperature at the observatory was very cold so we proceeded to photograph the comet through the 14 inch diameter telescope outfitted with a CCD astronomical camera - more sensitive than the DSLR.  The CCD camera was controlled with a desk-top computer which took a series of photos to show the motion of the comet with respect to the stars.  During the approximate 50 minutes in which the telescope automatically tracked the stars and taking a series of 60 sec exposures, we all congregated in our house to warm-up and have some star cookies generously baked by Vicki Collins.  The animation of the telescope image is shown in the image at right.  The image is oriented with the celestial south on the upside of the image.  The comet is actually moving toward the northeast in the sky and rising higher since it is in the eastern half of the sky.

The photo at left shows the same video sequence as the video above except that the brightness level of the display has been changed to span the total brightness of the comet.  White is set to the peak brightness of the comet which represents a very small region close to the core or nucleus of the comet. The stars are much fainter. The nucleus of this comet is estimated to be about 1 km in diameter.  That would be almost invisible in the College View Observatory telescopes were it not for the gas and dust given off by the comet's proximity with the Sun.  Notice that the background stars are the same formations for the two video clips.

See earlier posts of comet ZTF at the sites:

https://physicsphotooftheweek.blogspot.com/2023/01/physics-photo-of-week_29.html 

 https://physicsphotooftheweek.blogspot.com/2023/01/physics-photo-of-week.html

The comet was perhaps at its brightest in early February, but still invisible to the naked eye.  I may post updates to this blog if we detect any changes throughout February and early March, 2023.  Stay tuned...

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Physics Photo of the Week is published weekly during the academic year on Fridays by the Warren Wilson College Physics Department. These photos feature interesting phenomena in the world around us.  Students, faculty, and others are invited to submit digital (or film) photographs for publication and explanation. Atmospheric phenomena are especially welcome. Please send any photos to dcollins@warren-wilson.edu.

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