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Is this a Comet?
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May 27, 2018 18:57:48   #
Hsch39 Loc: Northbrook, Illinois
 
The top was my last night photo at Monument Valley. After downloading the card to my computer I noticed this "object" on the image. Maybe we have an Astronomer on this forum who would know if it is a Comet. The bottom photo was from our cabin at the View Hotel.


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May 27, 2018 19:06:42   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 

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May 27, 2018 19:30:51   #
halraiser
 
Comet C/2016M1 is a possibility, though I wonder if what you see may be airplane landing lights. You might want to point your browser at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/bright-comet-prospects-for-2018/ and at http://aerith.net/comet/catalog/2016M1/2016M1.html

What direction was that "tail" or whatever the lights were relative to the sun? The tail of a comet always points away from the sun.

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May 27, 2018 19:42:43   #
DaveC1 Loc: South East US
 
The strange thing is there are two distinct images there overlapping. I do not see any other features in the photo that look like that.

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May 27, 2018 20:19:42   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
DaveC1 wrote:
The strange thing is there are two distinct images there overlapping. I do not see any other features in the photo that look like that.


If both these photos were taken the same night, it is my guess that the first photo is a reflected light in the form of a lense coma and not a comet. Comets in the movies move fast because the movies are short. There does not seem to be any part of what is in the first image in the second image. If you take another close look that the first image, there appears to be two trapizoids just under the "comet". These do not appear in your second photo either and makes me think that they are other internal reflections.

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May 27, 2018 20:25:15   #
DaveC1 Loc: South East US
 
wdross wrote:
If both these photos were taken the same night, it is my guess that the first photo is a reflected light in the form of a lense coma and not a comet. Comets in the movies move fast because the movies are short. There does not seem to be any part of what is in the first image in the second image. If you take another close look that the first image, there appears to be two trapizoids just under the "comet". These do not appear in your second photo either and makes me think that they are other internal reflections.
If both these photos were taken the same night, it... (show quote)


"If you take another close look that the first image, there appears to be two trapizoids just under the "comet"."

That is what I was referring to.

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May 27, 2018 21:43:59   #
Hsch39 Loc: Northbrook, Illinois
 
The second photo was taken one day before.
wdross wrote:
If both these photos were taken the same night, it is my guess that the first photo is a reflected light in the form of a lense coma and not a comet. Comets in the movies move fast because the movies are short. There does not seem to be any part of what is in the first image in the second image. If you take another close look that the first image, there appears to be two trapizoids just under the "comet". These do not appear in your second photo either and makes me think that they are other internal reflections.
If both these photos were taken the same night, it... (show quote)

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May 27, 2018 21:56:25   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
This is a 20 second exposure. So ,I'm guessing it's some kind of "light leak" or internal lens reflection- total guess. But comet trails are not usually that conical

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May 27, 2018 22:02:11   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Where is the sun in relationship to the suspected comet? Comet tails always point away from the sun. If the tail is not pointing away from the sun, it's probably not a comet.

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May 28, 2018 01:22:23   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
Longshadow wrote:
Where is the sun in relationship to the suspected comet? Comet tails always point away from the sun. If the tail is not pointing away from the sun, it's probably not a comet.


That is a very good point. Also, unless this "comet" was extremely close the the earth, it would not have moved very far from the previous nights position. It would have located further down in the Milky Way.

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May 28, 2018 01:23:23   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
DaveC1 wrote:
"If you take another close look that the first image, there appears to be two trapizoids just under the "comet"."

That is what I was referring to.


Then I agree with you that they should not be there.

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May 28, 2018 06:16:57   #
J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio
 
Hsch39 wrote:
The top was my last night photo at Monument Valley. After downloading the card to my computer I noticed this "object" on the image. Maybe we have an Astronomer on this forum who would know if it is a Comet. The bottom photo was from our cabin at the View Hotel.


Nice shots

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May 28, 2018 09:34:05   #
dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca
 
Looks like some sort of lens flair. Definately not a comet. But otherwise a nice picture, and I like the second one with some foreground in it. Very nice! What lens/camera/exposure?

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May 28, 2018 10:13:11   #
DaveC1 Loc: South East US
 
dlmorris wrote:
Looks like some sort of lens flair. Definately not a comet. But otherwise a nice picture, and I like the second one with some foreground in it. Very nice! What lens/camera/exposure?


Is it possible that this is lens flair from the headlights from an automobile about at the horizon?

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May 28, 2018 11:54:51   #
Dlevon Loc: New Jersey
 
Hsch39 wrote:
The top was my last night photo at Monument Valley. After downloading the card to my computer I noticed this "object" on the image. Maybe we have an Astronomer on this forum who would know if it is a Comet. The bottom photo was from our cabin at the View Hotel.


Interesting photo. Need more info on the shot. Facing east or west?. Camera exposure settings?

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