Tsuchinshan-Atlas Comet

[Thalweg]

I'm thinking it might be fun to try to photograph this comet. However, it seems like it might be rather difficult, at least during this first go-around. Apparently, for those of us in the northern hemisphere, it will be a few degrees above the east-southeast horizon for about 30 minutes before sunrise on the 27th of September and October 2nd. That suggests to me that it could be really beautiful shooting conditions, or extremely difficult shooting conditions that wouldn't be worth getting out of bed for.

What would be the best way to shoot something like this? Wide angle? Zoom? Would an ND filter be helpful to get a really long exposure? I think if it were higher in the sky it would be more straight forward. I'm just not sure how to approach this one. Sometime around October 12th, it should be positioned more to the west. It might be easier to shoot then.

 

[Dcweather]

A bit late now but It probably wasn't the best comet to try if you lack experience. There will be others. An ND filter would be a definite no. They are not that bright. For night photography you may want a long exposure but that is to get in the maximum light. An ND filter is for bright daytime photography when you are tring to get less light for a longer exposure. The complete opposite really. Otherwise normal star photography really. So fairly high ISo, around 1600, widest aperture and depending on the focal length of your lens and camera the longest exposure you can get without trailing stars. So for a comet about 100mm and 2 -5 secs as a starting point.

 

[Thalweg]

Thanks for responding. Unfortunately, the whole thing pretty much flopped. We've had a pretty major forest fire about 30 miles north of us, so the sky has been very smoky for the last couple of weeks. I got a glimpse of the comet a few days ago, but it wouldn't have been worth shooting. Oh-well, it'll be back in another 80,000 years or so.