These days we can enjoy another comet just with a small telescope in our hand. Its name is 13P/Olbers, discovered by famous astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers (1758-1840) on March 1815. Comet’s orbital period is now around 70 years which makes it visible for most of us only once in our lives. Coincidentally, with another brighter comet of this year–12P/Pons-Brooks, both will appear in our sky again in 2094. If you don’t want to miss it and you are located in the Northern Hemisphere, try your luck upcoming weeks low over north-west horizon under the Ursa Major constellation. Would you like to purchase a high-quality copy for print? Find out more here. For most of the image I used Optolong Clear Sky filter.
28 July 2024, Kunetice, Czech Republic
Here comes a yesterday’s (28 July 2024) portrait of the comet setting over the famous Czech Kunetice Mountain Castle (from the 15th century) as it was seen from a precisely calculated place near Kunetice village from a 1.4 km distance. It was truly challenging to calculate the precise spot (not talking about struggling with light pollution), but thanks to very good weather and truly clear air (just hours before a cold front passed the country), photography in this otherwise light-polluted region was possible for a while. And moreover, the rising Moon gently illuminated the castle. So when thinking about it, this is truly a lifetime shot as the comet will appear again in 70 years. So thank you, nature, for this!
Comet Olbers and Kunetice Moun Castle
Used Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm/200mm, f2.8, ISO1600, 41x30s tracked on Vixen Polarie U on the comet, 23x30s not-tracked (for foreground noise reduction), Optolong L-Pro filter.
6 July 2024, Spišská Teplica, Slovakia
Yesterday, I was lucky to capture its beautiful tail while the comet was moving over cloudy and hazy Gerlachov Peak, the highest peak of Slovakia located in the High Tatras mountains. Of course, this shot needed precise planning, I calculated it would be possible only from a place nearby Spisska Teplica, located about 14 km far from the 2655m high Slovakian summit. Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm@200mm, f2.8, ISO 1600, 37x30s from Vixen Polarie U (tracked on the comet and then on the foreground), used Optolong Clear Sky filter.
Comet Olbers over Gerlachov Peak
30 June 2024, Záhradné, Slovakia
Today, on June 30, 2024, the comet approaches closest to the Sun and tomorrow to Earth. This image shows nice tails of the comet while located very low over horizon. I captured this nice view from a hill above Terňa, Slovakia, which illuminates the bottom foreground. Just on a small hill above the lights, very distant Temple of the Ascension of the Most Holy Theotokos of Hradisko can be visible too. Captured on 29 June 2024, around 22 UT (30 June 2024 around midnight local time); Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm (200mm), f2.8, ISO 1600, 43x30s (registered on comet first, separately on the foreground, comet tracked on Vixen Polarie U), Optolong Clear Sky filter.
Comet 13P/Olbers over Terňa, Slovakia
Comet 13P/Olbers over Terňa, Slovakia (vertical cut)
Comet 13P/Olbers over Terňa, Slovakia (comet cut)
24 June 2024, Záhradné, Slovakia
This image I took from Záhradné, Slovakia, and I made it happen to capture it just over the local rolling landscape illuminated by the rising summer Moon from behind. The distant light in the foreground comes from a small temple of Hradisko village (full name of the temple is the “Temple of the Ascension of the Most Holy Theotokos”). Captured on 24 June 2024, around 22 UT; Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm (200mm), f2.8, ISO 1600, 68x20s (registered on comet first, separately on the foreground, comet tracked on Vixen Polarie U).
Summer Comet 13P/Olbers
