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[vidrazor]

Like many here, I would like to try and image this comet in the next week, weather permitting in my area, but I'm at a loss as to what would be an ideal focal length and sensor to shoot it with.

 

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[Rustler46]

I use SkySafari to show the FOV with various cameras and lens or telescope. In Observe > Scope display you just choose lens and camera. It displays the FOV with angular dimensions given.

 

For my old film-era Pentax 135mm f/2.5 on APS-C Sony NEX-7 it gives a FOV of 9.9 X 6.6 degrees. This proved to be just right for the northern hemisphere's last bright comet - Neowise. 

 

Stacked 30-second exposures on barn-door tracker 

 

If C/2023 A3 proves to be brighter and with a longer tail, then a shorter focal length would be appropriate. I recommend shooting wide open to catch the greatest extent of the tail. Star images may suffer. But that is the tradeoff in getting a good capture of the comet itself.

 

Clear Skies,

Russ

Edited by Rustler46, 01 October 2024 - 11:31 PM.