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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.
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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.
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Unless
otherwise stated, all images are copyrighted by the photographers.
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Photographer, Location,
Date |
Larger images |
Comments |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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." |
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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!" |
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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." |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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." |
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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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