Comet 2006 P1 McNaught. June 12, 2007.
Combination of 5, 3 minute images, SBIG ST-8XE CCD.
300mm f/6 newtonian at prime focus.
Comet 2006 P1 McNaught was without a doubt THE comet of the decade. It reached magnitude -6, was easily visible in full daylight with the naked eye and displayed a magnificent, curving tail over 40 degrees long! Unfortunately once again for northern hemisphere observers, the comet was only visible from the southern hemisphere duing the best of its display! From a personal point of view, cloudy weather ruined any attempt to observe the comet while it was visible from the northern hemisphere. Then my southern friends had a great time emailing numerous fantastic images that they were able to obtain!!!! :-( My only observation of the comet came during a visit to Australia during June of 2007. By then the comet was but a faint shadow of its former glory!