Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS

Three days after Comet PANSTARS made its closest approach to the Sun, it finally became visible to Northern Hemisphere, East coast observers. Even though it peaked at 0-magnitude it was not visible to the naked eye in the fading light of sunset. Art Swedlow, Dave Siegrist, Eileen Myers, Nina Craven and I were able to see and image the comet on the top section of a Maynard parking garage. It was invisible in my 10 power x 25mm binoculars but was clearly seen with a pair of 8-power x 50mm ones.

2.5-second image, EF 24-105mm, f/4L at 105mm f/5, Unmodified Canon T1i, ISO 800, Tripod, processed with Adobe Photoshop. 19:47 hrs EDT (23:47 UT), 13 March 2013, Maynard, MA Parking Garage.