Starship Asterisk*

Comet of the North

Explanation: It looks like a double comet, but Comet PanSTARRS (C/2011 L4) is just offering skygazers a Messier moment. Outward bound and fading in this starry scene, the well-photographed comet is remarkably similar in brightness to M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. Tracking through northern skies just below the galaxy, the comet was captured as local midnight approached on April 3. Both comet and galaxy were visible to the eye and are immersed in the faint glow of northern lights as our own Milky Way galaxy arcs over a snowy field near Tänndalen, Sweden. Double star cluster h and chi Persei can be spotted along the Milky Way's arc high above the comet/galaxy pair. Follow the arc to bright Deneb, alpha star of the constellation Cygnus, at the right edge of the frame.

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too bad we can't put a long life camera on one of these comets and go for a ride... like the one that is perhaps crashing onto Mars

There is a faint line to the left of the comet and galaxy, just under the branches of the tree. Any ideas what it is?

I saw that also and thought it's either a satellite or a shooting star. And came over here to see if someone can identify it.

Put on your red/blue 3D glasses and alternately blink
your eyes to see what this view looks like for Ann.

SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC - but looking at that photo, of the man under the cloud of stars, I was struck with the utter violence of the universe. In the photo, it looks so calm and peaceful, but there are googols of energetic particles, yotta-zetta-exawatts of radiation, black holes that suck away at reality. In other words, this spaceship Earth both protects us and traps us.

Sorry for the self-indulgent musing, but that's what looking at the sky is supposed to do - make us think.

K1NS wrote:SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC - but looking at that photo, of the man under the cloud of stars, I was struck with the utter violence of the universe. In the photo, it looks so calm and peaceful, but there are googols of energetic particles, yotta-zetta-exawatts of radiation, black holes that suck away at reality. In other words, this spaceship Earth both protects us and traps us.

Sorry for the self-indulgent musing, but that's what looking at the sky is supposed to do - make us think.

K1NS, you are right on topic. Mostly the night sky is calming for me… doesn’t usually change much. For me, the cosmic violence is overshadowed by its apparent stability from our spaceship’s distance. Outer space does make me think. I see Art in the sky… mostly aesthetic thoughts… then there’s the musing about space aliens. I do wish they would come and visit sometime. Or maybe they’re already visiting/studying… perhaps they’re reviewing Earthling posting skills. What better way than to join SA* and interact with cleverly disguised broadband communication designed to glean social information from a distance without having to expose one’s hideous body. I know of at least one such suspect.

ta152h0 wrote:too bad we can't put a long life camera on one of these comets and go for a ride... like the one that is perhaps crashing onto Mars

At least we have functioning rovers on opposite sides of the planet with potential ring side seats for the 2014 event

Saw that streak too. Could it be a satellite so near to midnight this time of year?

Photographically, I wanted to propose that the brightness around the silhouette of the person was created by a flash that the person set off during the long exposure. By doing that the person, who could not hold still enough for the long exposure, appears crisp. Thoughts?

gregh wrote:Saw that streak too. Could it be a satellite so near to midnight this time of year?

The actual time doesn't matter, only the distance from the Sun. In this image, the Sun isn't far below the horizon- only about 35° from the comet and Andromeda, so maybe 45° from the streak. So it could easily be a satellite.

I thought satellite also since it seems to maintain color and geometry

gregh wrote:Photographically, I wanted to propose that the brightness around the silhouette of the person was created by a flash that the person set off during the long exposure. By doing that the person, who could not hold still enough for the long exposure, appears crisp. Thoughts?

Looks to me like he's holding a flashlight in his left hand and it's pointing to the ground in front of him - probably he fipped it on and off briefly during the exposure to give the effect you mention.

I wish I could see the stars this clearly near my home, light pollution is a total bummer.

We are still hoping to see the comet from our location, unfortunately the horizon has a big mountain in the way.

Lovely photo today.

Wonderful shot!