Astrofest 2024

Did you request an observation with Helen at Astrofest 2024?  Here are the results 😁  

And remember your school could get access to these telescopes too, and support and guidance on how to use them, from the Comet Chasers project.  Contact Helen for more details helen.usher @open.ac.uk

Comet 29P Observations 

The graph and data table show two observations made at Astrofest (labelled Usher).  The earlier observation by Z Gueresi-Leach allowed the timing of the start of the outburst to be constrained. The latter observation (see below) by D Ladva allowed the shape of the coma following outburst to be studied. 


Comet 29P

The comet had an outburst on 5th February.  This image combines observations from Jose Perez and D Ladva at Astrofest

M65 Galaxy


This image was taken with the Faulkes Telescope North 2m telescope in Hawaii - the telescope was being controlled 'live' from Astrofest using the 'Real Time Interface'

Tim Ellison downloaded and processed the data

M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy

This image was taken with the Faulkes Telescope North 2m telescope in Hawaii - the telescope was being controlled 'live' from Astrofest using the 'Real Time Interface'

Comet 62P

This was requested by Ben Harding.  The image was taken with the 0.4m telescope at Sutherland in South Africa with rp, V,B filters.  Observation: 23:21 on  6 Feb 2024


Can you spot the galaxies too?

I hope this inspires the school Ben works with to try some comet imaging with their C14!

Comet 62P

This was requested by A Jarvis and was taken with the 0.4m telescope at Sutherland in South Africa with rp, V,B filters.

Observation: 23:45 on  6 Feb 2024