Chasing Comet Pan-STARRS C/2011 L4

Pan-STARRS: The Comet That Made Me Work For It!

Phew, this comet was really playing hard to get! On March 13, 2013 (yeah, I know, the date in the French original was off by a year, but Pan-STARRS was a 2013 comet!), I was seriously doubting I’d capture it. Between the pesky clouds to the west and a stubborn tree smack in my field of view, it felt like a losing battle. But thanks to the mount’s precise GOTO and my camera’s low-light sensitivity, I still managed to snag a few frames right through those thin clouds!

The final image isn’t winning any awards, but honestly, I’m just thrilled: Mission Pan-STARRS accomplished!

Here’s a closer look at the comet:

And guess what? That pesky tree problem to the west? It was swiftly dealt with the very next day!