Jan 8.57 UT, 2009: Photographed from Sierra Remote Observatories in morning twilight using RCOS 16" f/8.9, total 10min unguided. 1/2degree wide field. Surprising tail structure in ion and anti-tail. Had to image quickly to beat the brightening sky.

Comet Lulin in the morning twilight passing the magnitude 5.9 star 47 Librae. LRGB image 6:6:6:6 for a total of 24 minutes.

Comet Lulin image was taken by me from Langkawi National Observatory, Malaysia this morning (Jan 7, 2009) shows its bright 'tail' and 'anti-tail'. Photo details: RCOS 20", STL11000, LRGB combined, total exposure 24 minutes.

Comet Lulin imaged on 08 January 2009

I'm primarily a visual observer, so I usually sketch my observations. The attached image is a drawing of the comet based on my observation this morning (Jan 9, 2009 - 13:00 UT). I drove northeast of Flagstaff to Sunset Crater National Monument and arrived there shortly after 5 am with the moon blazing away and lighting up the snow-covered landscape. The head of Scorpius was rising, and Antares was flickering with a rusty light just over the tops of the cinder cones. While the sky was still bright with moonlight, I shot a few photos of the landscape, and then set up my 8 inch Dobsonian. The comet was a snap to find at low power (37.5X) and readily pierced the moon-washed star field as a round glow with a nicely condensed core. [extended report]