Animation  of Comet Lee 30 Oct 99

This animation is a sequence of 27 images that shows the movement of Comet Lee (C/1999 H1) on 30 Oct 99.     Each of the individual images is a 120 sec exposure with the MX-5C CCD camera taken through an 8" LX 200 SCT.  The images have been heavily contrast stretched to bring out the faint comet.  When the animation starts Comet Lee is in the upper right quadrant of the frame near the top edge.    It then passes in front a small group of three 14th magnitude stars.   The brightness parameters for Comet Lee indicate that the comet should have been at magnitude 10.7 when these images  were taken.  However, comparison with the stars in the images indicates that the comet was much closer to magnitude 14.    Click here to go back.