The 2005 return of the comet was more favourable, with the comet peaking at around magnitude 9.8. However the entire apparition was overshadowed by the spectacular results obtained by Deep Impact. Who can forget the amazing images from the impactor as it raced in for the collision? Unfortunately for me, the impact occured when the comet was below the horizon from my location.
My first observation of the comet was on January 9, when it was a faint 16th magnitude object. Only vague traces of a tail were visible.
Comet Temple 1 January 5, 2005
Combination of 3, 4 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD.
30" f/5 newtonian at prime focus.
By March, the comet was much brighter, and displayed a much larger coma and tail.
Comet Temple 1 March 6, 2005
Same image as the above, but processed using a median filter.
By April, the comet was at opposition and less than 1AU from the Earth. As seen from the Earth, the comet was around 10.5 magnitude and surrounded by a large coma. The tail was short, probably because at this time it was pointing almost directly away from the Earth.
Comet Temple 1 April 16, 2005
Combination of 10, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 April 16, 2005
Same as the above image, but combined using a median filter.
During early May, the comet continued to brighten as it approached perihelion and as the distance from the Earth remained approximately constant. The brightness peaked at around 9.5 at the end of the month.
Comet Temple 1 May 2, 2005
Same as the above image, but combined using a median filter.
Comet Temple 1 May 8, 2005
Combination of 5, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 May 8, 2005
Combination of 5, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
This image was taken about 4 hours after the previous image and shows the motion of the comet very well.
Comet Temple 1 May 8, 2005
Combination of 4, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD and a visual filter.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 May 9, 2005
Combination of 5, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 May 9, 2005
Combination of 3, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD and a red filter.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 May 9, 2005
Combination of 5, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD and a visual filter.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 May 9, 2005
Combination of 5, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 May 9, 2005
Combination of 3, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD and a red filter.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 May 9, 2005
Combination of 3, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD and a visual filter.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 June 1, 2005
Combination of 10, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 June 1, 2005
Same as the above image, but combined using a median filter.
As June progressed, the comet began to fade quickly as it receeded from both the Earth and the Sun
Comet Temple 1 June 24, 2005
Combination of 5, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD with a red filter.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 June 24, 2005
Combination of 5, 3 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD with a visual filter.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
During July, the comet rapidly moved southwards and was soon lost to northern hemisphere observers.
Comet Temple 1 July 3, 2005
Same as the above image, but combined using a median filter.
Comet Temple 1 July 4, 2005
Combination of 15, 2 minute images. SBIG ST9XE CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.
Comet Temple 1 July 4, 2005
Same as the above image, but combined using a median filter.