* * * Images of C/2006 M4 (SWAN) * * *



This image was taken on the evening of October 16, 2006 by Albert van Duin near Brunsting, The Netherlands around 20h30m UT with a SMC Pentax 200mm F/4 telelens on a modified Canon 350D.
It is a stack of 10 1-minute exposures on ISO1600.

The faint gastail can be followed almost to the top edge of the frame which indicates a length of at least 3 degrees. A short dusttail is also visible curving away to the right.
The bright star to the left of the comet is magnitude 3.0 γ Bootis.
This is a 2x2binned image from the original. Click here for a full size image.

This (close up) image was taken on the same evening by Emiel Kempen observing from the same location.
It is the result of a total exposure time of 40 minutes with a modified Canon 350D, set at ISO1600, through a 15-cm Schmidt-Newton telescope.
In particular the diffuse dust component of the tail is well visible here.
This too is a 2x2binned image from the original. Click here for a full size image.

This image was taken on November 1, 2006 around 18h14m UT by Albert van Duin from his backyard in Beilen, The Netherlands.
It is the sum of 6 30s-exposures with a modified Canon 350D, set at ISO1600, through a 20-cm f/2.75 ASA astrograph.
This is an impressive result considering the fact that these were test exposures in a brightly moonlit sky, with a new scope that was not yet perfectly aligned and focused.

This is a 2x2binned image from the original. Click here for a full size image.

The following image was also taken on November 1, 2006 by Emiel Kempen in Hoogeveen, The Netherlands with the same equipment he used for his October 16 image.
This time he combined 13 60s-exposures taken between 18h18m and 18h33m UT.
There was some cloud interference, which caused the faint yellowish spots on the left side of the image

This is a 2x2binned image from the original. Click here for a full size image.

The two images to the right show that you do not need big equipment to catch Comet SWAN.
The images were supplied by Jim Melka of St. Louis, Missouri, and taken on 9 and 10 November 2006 when the comet was about magnitude 7.
It is easily recognizable because of its distinct greenish colour, typical for gas-rich comets.
Full details are given on the individual images, but note that the date is given in non-standard US format.