Comet Ikeya-Zhang Photo Gallery
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Summary: In Early March 2002, Comet Ikeya-Zhang became a naked-eye fuzzball in the evening sky. It soon brightened to 3rd magnitude and delighted sky watchers with its remarkable photogenic tail. The comet even had a stunning close encounter with the Andromeda Galaxy. But all good things must come to an end. On April 30th, Ikeya-Zhang made its closest approach to Earth (0.41 AU) and since then has been receding toward the outer solar system. The fading fuzzball now (on May 2, 2002) glows like a 5th magnitude star at the limit of naked-eye visibility. Soon it will be impossible to see without a telescope. So farewell, Ikeya-Zhang! It was a great show while it lasted.

Spaceweather.com wishes to thank all those who submitted to the Comet Ikeya-Zhang gallery! The comet is now fading, and the gallery is now closed to submissions.

Unless otherwise stated, all images are copyrighted by the photographers.

  Photographer, Location, Date Larger images Comments

Bartosz Laszczynski,
Leszno, Poland
March 30, April 4
#1, #2, #3 Bartosz Laszczynski of Poland sent this series of images. Image one was taken with an f/2.8 58 mm, and Kodak Supra 400. Image two was taken with a Soligor 8"/800, and Kodak Supra 400 film. 60 seconds. Image three: f/2.8 125 mm and Kodak Supra 400. 120 seconds.

Ginger Mayfield,
Divide, CO
April 4
#1 Ginger Mayfield of Colorado sends this image of Ikeya-Zhang and Adromeda with an 85mm refractor and an Olympus digital camera.

Jan Lameer,
Terschelling, Netherlands
April 4
#1, #2 This remarkable picture of the Zodiacal Light and Comet Ikeya-Zhang reveals colors apparent only after long exposures with film or CCDs. Astrophotographer Jan Lameer has included technical info on this image at his home page.

Charles Kiesel,
Fort Branch, IN
April 4
#1 Charles Kiesel: "It's very difficult to photograph Ikeya-Zhang now. By the time it is dark enough to photograph the comet, it is getting very low into the dense atmosphere. I used a 135mm F2.8 lens on April 4th. I used 800 speed film and a 15 second exposure time. M31 is seen just below the comet."

Thad V'Soske,
Pine Valley, CA
April 4
#1, #2 Thad V'Soske: "These guided photos were piggybacked for 5 to 7 minutes at 400mm using Provia 400 slide film. They were shot from just east of Pine Valley California, USA. Looking best in binoculars, this comet really puts on a show. I wish it could stick around for a while. I have plenty of film!"

Mark Cunningham,
Colorado
April 4
#1 Mark Cunningham: "I have been clouded out until last night. This was taken with a 205mm lens and 200 ASA film, guided for 10 minutes."

Chris Schur,
Payson, Arizona
April 4
#1, #2 Chris Schur: "The yellow extinction band of dust makes the lower half of each image quite brownish, and has removed most of the blue arms of Andromeda. In image one, you can see how the comet's head has become extremely yellow as compared to image two, when it was much higher in the sky. I used Elite 100 film -which is more blue sensitive- as to capture the ion tail in the comet more clearly.

Phil Hoffman,
Whitehorse, Yukon
March 31
#1 Phil Hoffman captured Ikeya-Zhang and the aurora near Whitehorse, Yukon, with a 50mm lens at f/2 on Provia 400 film. The image is a one-minute exposure.

Pekka Parviainen,
Finland
March 31, April 1
#1, #2 Strategically located for aurorae, in Finland, Pekka Parviainen captured these stunning images of Ikeya-Zhang. The first reveals the comet and a rainbow aurora. The second shows the comet, alone, taken with a 135 mm f/2 short telescope, and is the sum of 4 images, each about 4 minutes of exposure.

Mike Klensch,
Skagway, Alaska
March 31, April 1
#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 A large series of images by professional photographer Mike Klensch, who adds, "Our night sky is disappearing fast up here, so I'm trying to get in all of the night-sky viewing/photography I can before the sun takes over for the summer."

Alex Roca and Angels Escuer,
Hortoneda, Spain
April 1
#1 Our friends Alex Roca and Angels Escuer captured this image of the comet with a Konica camera and 135mm lens, mounted on a hand-giuded telescope. The image is a 2-minute exposure, and Andromeda can be seen to the right of the comet.

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