Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) fragmenting?
Taken by Timo Inkinen on April 4, 2020 @
Hyvinkaa, Finland
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Date Taken: 2020:04:07 20:04:24
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Details:
Hello,
Would it be possible that I have also documented this comet's nucleus separation in an early stage? I have attached a combination image of two comet images from April 1st and then April 4th. Both images have been imaged with my TMB 152/1200 APO refractor and ASI 183MM Pro camera (with 2x2 bin + 75s subexposures). After reading the story here https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=07&month=04&year=2020 I decided to check my own comet Atlas images in a more detail for the same event, because I had imaged this same comet only one day before.
I took the best nine images from each evening (analyzed them with CCD Inspector for best Aspect % for stars) and then integrated those with PixInsight ImegeIntegration tool with the comet's position. Then I did the standard histogram stretchings for both images and converted them into TIF format for Photoshop viewing. In Photoshop I combined these two TIF images into one and viewed the comet nucleuses with 200% zoom.
Well, the difference between these nucleus is not that distinct, but I do can see the same difference in single FITS images in MaxIm DL too (with 200% zoom too and with 100% view, when looking very carefully).
So at least, I think I can confirm the observation from astronomers Quanzhi Ye (of the University of Maryland) and Qicheng Zhang (of Caltech). This is a sort of "MeToo" observation image of this possible (likely) comet separation process. In addition I would really like to believe that I have documented this comet's separation process with my backyard 6" refractor too.
PS. I tried to attach here two FITS images (one from April 1st and one from April 4th) for your inspection, but that failed.
My equipment:
TMB 152/1200 Triplet APO refractor.
ZWO ASI183MM Pro cooled CMOS camera.
AstroPhysics AP GTO1200 mount.
Best regards,
Timo Inkinen
timo.p.inkinen@gmail.com
https://astrokuva.galleria.fi/kuvat/
Photographer's website:
https://astrokuva.galleria.fi/kuvat/Komeetat/
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