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April 08, 2005
Comet come.
I recently scanned some old negatives that I did not have prints for, and found a few treasures.
This is my image of comet (1996 B2) Hyakutaki, from March 25th 1996. The comet came within 10 million miles of Earth (only 1/10th the distance from the sun,) and the blue ion tail is clearly visible, stretching out a full 50 degrees of sky through Ursa Major (big dipper).
We were out in the Livermore hills, and was it cold enough to frost up the scope. The sky was utterly transparent.
As dawn crept up, we packed up and started back down the mountains towards town and breakfast, but pulled over when we saw the view of the comet against the hills.
I had forgotten my tripod and cable release, and so propped the camera up on the hood of my truck, and with an open iris used the lens cap as a shutter with a "20 elephants" count.
I will never forget this moment.
"As though artist God in daub and doubt
had sketched a star, and then thumbed it out."
(Norman Nicholson)
Posted by Andrew at April 8, 2005 10:08 PM
Comments
Absolutely gorgeous shot, Andrew!
Posted by: thedude at April 9, 2005 11:55 AM