Tail Separation of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on January 25th/26th 2023 (Christian Koll)

Tail Separation of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on January 25th/26th 2023

It was at the limit of the bearable in terms of effort, but meanwhile the frustration about the weather is so great that one is willing to go a little further than usual.

So when the weather looked promising in the southern part of Austria on January 25th, I searched for a place at the foot of the Grossglocker mountain, more precisely in Ferleiten, using Google Earth. According to the forecast, it was supposed to be clear all night and the valley there extends exactly to the north-east - where the comet is located. Blue light pollution zone on top of that!

So I drove off in the evening full of hope, only to find out after 2 ½ hours that 5km before Ferleiten the road is closed due to an avalanche (Google Maps: Why woun't you say anything!?)
Unfortunately, exactly at this point there is also the border between high fog cover and clear sky and all around no place to be found, where you can take pictures undisturbed throughout the night.

So plan "B" then:
An hour's drive on to the Felbertauern Pass - further to the southwest and up to 1650m altitude - no other alternative available. In front of the long tunnel right before the pass I saw the stars twinkle in the south. But when I got to the top of the pass, I was sobered: Just like during the whole journey from my home to East Tyrol - high fog as far as the eye can see! What a nightmare!

I decide to wait and, after almost an hour, my patience was rewarded - it's clearing up! Despite the suboptimal conditions - the toll and service station is brightly lit, and an accommodation facility below has "festival lighting" on all night - I managed to expose the comet for some 3 1/2 hours.

At 5 o'clock in the morning I packed up at -22°C and drove home for three hours - finally some time to sleep!

So this is what I ended up with as a reward: A rare ion tail separation event - wow!

Skywatcher Esprit ED Super APO Triplet
Fine Art Astrophotography
The refractors!
CMOS Imagers
Comets Imaging
QHY Users Group
Austria Astrophotography
Imaged with N.I.N.A.
QHYCCD 600M

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Tail Separation of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on January 25th/26th 2023

Tail Separation of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on January 25th/26th 2023

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Tail Separation of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on January 25th/26th 2023

Tail Separation of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on January 25th/26th 2023

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