A FOUR COMET NIGHT

Location:  Prince of Wales, NB, Canada

Date Time:  October 8, 2021 0230-0455hrs

Weather:  Clear, slight breeze from the north west, 11.6C/82% humidity in Saint John at 0150hrs, 6C at 0345hrs in POW.

Equipment:  Telescope 80ed/apo with Canon Rebel t3 attached at prime focus.  Images processed with Photo Shop Elements.

Attendance:  David McCashion

Objective:  To image as many of the five comets in the eastern sky during this time as possible.  Also, to watch for Zodiacal light.

Report:  

• Set up scope and aligned on Vega, which was very close to NW horizon at 2am and Deneb.
• Pegasus was high in the western sky.  Could make out 5 stars in the big square, which makes seeing a not so great 5 limiting magnitude.  Conditions seemed to change dramatically over the observing time, although no clouds were seen.  
• The surrounding woods was uncharacteristically quiet.  Totally silent during entire observing time.  Something dead nearby giving off quite a stink.
  
• Looked for Zodiacal light in the west, not realizing it was an eastern phenomenon in the morning.  There is light pollution in that general direction normally, but not that far north.  Zodiacal light really lit up the NE sky, just under Ursa Major.  This washed out my last comet image attempt.
• No satellites were seen, which isn't surprising for that time of night.  They are normally seen just after dark and just before first light.
• Three confirmed shooting stars seen, including one while imaging, plus another seen as driving home.  A number more, unconfirmed, seen out of the corner of my eye.
  

In Auriga, near one of the main asterism stars, seen in the upper left.  Distance from Earth 5.39AU.  60s, ISO 3200.  Un-cropped, enhanced.

In Taurus, near M1.  62s, ISO 6400.   Distance from Earth 0.47AU.  Reported mag 11.0.  Un-cropped, enhanced.

In Orion, well above the main asterism stars. Distance from Earth 1.126AU.  Reported mag 11.1. 61s, ISO 6400.

Seen the shooting star as imaging.  In Lynx, partially washed out by zodiacal light. Distance from Earth 3.582AU.  Reported mag 10.1. 30s, ISO 6400.

Area of sky below the main asterism stars of Ursa Major.  Comet may show near center of image, but washed out due to intense zodiacal light in that area of sky.  Distance from Earth 2.259AU.  Reported mag 11.5  25s, ISO 3200.