Comet Neowise

July 21 2020

Chimney Top, Red River Gorge

I had been kicking myself for missing a couple of really clear nights with very little moon and not trying to see the comet. I looked at the sky around 7:15 (right after dinner) and there were no clouds in the west. I asked my wife if she minded it I drove out to the gorge to check out the comet. Of course she said go right ahead, see you in the morning. I grabbed my camera stuff and filled a Nalgene with water and off I went. I thought I might catch sunset, but for some reason a stretch of the Mountain Parkway was shut so I had to take a side road that cost me about 10 minutes, so I just missed what looked to be a nice sunset. Oh well, not why I was there anyway.

There was still a lot of light so it was a easy/short hike to Chimney Top where I found about 20 other like minded people. I set up off to the side and away from the crowd and waited for it to get dark. 

While waiting, I caught a glimpse of a 1-day old moon. You can just make out the sliver just right of center in the orange part of the sky (look above the valley). This is the youngest moon I have ever seen without a telescope. 

I'll make it easier for you :)

And then the main event. This is with my zoom lens at 105mm.

And then zoomed out or with my 21mm lens. I was happy that the clouds did not come in and ruin the view.

The photo below is a stack of 12 individual photos to get a little more detail.

The sky to the south was lit up with distant lightning the whole time I was waiting for it to get dark and while photographing the comet. Really glad that this did not come closer. After the comet dropped into the clouds on the horizon, I shifted positions to see the Milky Way and the lightning. 

The bright star is Jupiter.