Re: [BAA Comets] 2020 F3 (NEOWISE) unfiltered on 2020 July 11.085
Nick James 15 Jul 2020 20:58 UTC
Padma,
Here are a few example images:
https://britastro.org/cometobs/2020f3/2020f3_20200711_0045_ndj.html
https://britastro.org/cometobs/2020f3/2020f3_20200711_jchambo.html
https://britastro.org/cometobs/2020f3/2020f3_20200712_tlehmann.html
The "red tail" appears between the inner and outer blue ion tails. It
certainly looks real but I'm always worried that it is some form of
processing artefact. These images will have been subject to strong sky
gradient removal processing. I believe that all the images that show it
are from Bayer matrix colour sensors. Rhemann's image here:
https://britastro.org/cometobs/2020f3/2020f3_20200710_0124_grhemann.html
does not show it. It was obtained with LRGB filters on a mono sensor.
It is certainly a topic of active discussion in several places online.
Nick.
On 15/07/2020 21:12, Padma Yanamandra-Fisher wrote:
> Hello, All,
>
> I have been hearing that the comet sports additional red tails in addition
> to the blue ion tail - has anybody seen them> I cannot find such pictures
> and want to see them before I mention them in the PACA groups
>
> thanks,
> Padma
>
> Padma A. Yanamandra-Fisher
> Senior Research Scientist
> Space Science Institute