Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) is making its grand journey through the inner solar system, inspiring astronomers, photographers, and stargazers around the world. As part of this collective fascination, I’m excited to share my photographs I captured of this remarkable celestial visitor against the vibrant cityscape of Brooklyn, NYC.

These photos are my small contribution to the ongoing global observation of this rare comet, offering a glimpse into how even from an urban environment, the wonders of space remain accessible to those with the patience to seek them.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible from Brooklyn over the Verrazano Bridge and Staten Island after Sunset

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/3.8, ISO 1600, 2 sec. October 15, 2024.

In a stunning blend of cosmic beauty and urban life, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) was captured over Brooklyn just after sunset. Although not visible to the naked eye due to the intense light pollution of New York City, the comet revealed itself through the preview on a Canon RA camera. 

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) over Brooklyn, NYC.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/3.2, ISO 400, 3 sec. October 15, 2024.

Nestled between Staten Island and a boat drifting across the water, the comet adds a subtle glow beneath the iconic Verrazano Bridge, demonstrating the magic that can still be found in the night sky, even amid the city’s overwhelming lights.

The next photo dives deeper into the beauty of Comet C/2023 A3, revealing details not visible in the wide-angle city shot. Captured with a Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM telephoto lens, the image showcases the comet’s bright, glowing tail and even a faint anti-tail.

Comet C/2023 A3 – detailed close-up of the comet’s tail and anti-tail captured from New York.

Canon EOS 60Da, Canon EF200mm f/2.8L II USM Lens,  f/2.8, ISO 2500, 2 sec, stock 10 images, using iOptron SkyTracker, October 16, 2024.

The anti-tail is a fascinating feature that forms due to the unique alignment between the comet, the Sun, and Earth. While the main tail streams away from the Sun, the anti-tail appears to extend in the opposite direction. This is not because the comet has two tails going in different directions, but rather due to an optical illusion caused by our perspective. The anti-tail consists of dust particles along the comet’s orbit, which, under the right angle, seem to point sunward.

These images represent not just the beauty of the comet but also the joy of participating in a global observation effort. Whether observing from a dark, rural landscape or amidst the glowing lights of a bustling city, we all have the opportunity to look up and witness the universe unfolding before us.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• A Celestial Surprise: Capturing Comet SOHO-5008 During the Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024
• Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) Canon Ra Bethel, New York
• The comet NEOWISE reflecting in Wesserlauf Pond, Bethel, New York
• Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from New York City

Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse September 27, 2015 Brooklyn New York

Total Lunar Eclipse September 27, 2015 Brooklyn New York


Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens, exposure 4 sec; f/5.6; ISO 640

Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse September 27, 2015 New York Brooklyn

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens, exposure 1 sec; f/5.6; ISO 640

Super Blood Moon New York City

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens, exposure 1 sec; f/9; ISO 320

Lunar Eclipse New York City

Cloudy Lunar Eclipse Brooklyn Astronomy

Cloudy Total Lunar Eclipse

Between clouds Total Lunar Eclipse

Urban Astrophotography

These photographs demonstrate the challenges and possibilities of urban astrophotography under extreme light pollution in New York City. All images were taken from Brooklyn, where night skies are heavily affected by artificial lighting and fall into the Bortle Scale Class 9 (inner-city sky).

In the first image, photographed from my backyard at night, you can see a simple foreground of polls and a wire silhouetted against the sky. Above them are the Orion constellation and the Pleiades star cluster. The bright, washed-out background clearly shows the impact of severe light pollution, which reduces contrast and limits the number of visible stars.

Urban Astrophotography - NYC astronomy - Orion Constellation

The second image shows the Lyra constellation. Here, the urban foreground was minimized, allowing the stars themselves to stand out more clearly. I added constellation annotations in Photoshop to help identify the star pattern — a useful technique when imaging from bright city environments.

Urban Astrophotography NYC - Lyra Constellation

In the third image, the Cassiopeia constellation is visible, again with annotations added for clarity. Even under heavy light pollution, some prominent constellations can still be captured from Brooklyn, though only the brightest stars are detectable.

Cassiopeia constellation - Urban Astronomy-  Brooklyn Astrophotography

The final image is a panoramic night view of Manhattan photographed from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Both the Brooklyn Bridge (closer) and the Manhattan Bridge are visible, along with the illuminated Financial District and its reflections on the water.

Although a few bright points appear in the sky in this last image, they are not stars. Under Bortle Class 9 conditions, no recognizable constellations are visible above Manhattan. Most of these bright points are likely airplanes moving through the night sky rather than astronomical objects.

Brooklyn astronomy - Manhattan panorama at night

This post illustrates how urban astrophotography requires adjusted expectations — focusing on bright constellations, wide-field compositions, and creative framing — while also highlighting the dramatic contrast between natural night skies and the artificial glow of a major city.

Urban vs. Dark Sky: In heavily light-polluted cities like New York (Bortle Class 9), only first-magnitude stars are visible to the naked eye, while deep-sky objects are largely washed out by skyglow. In contrast, truly dark locations (Bortle Class 1–2), such as remote deserts or dark-sky parks, reveal a celestial masterpiece: thousands of stars, the full structure of the Milky Way, and faint nebulae and galaxies that are completely invisible from urban environments. The difference highlights how dramatically artificial lighting alters our human connection to the cosmos.

Related Posts

• Milky Way Casting Shadows – Chile (Bortle Class 1)
• Watching the Sky: Observing Meteors at Cherry Springs State Park
• Astrophotography: Tiny Planet at Night (Urban vs Travel Skies)
• Brooklyn at Night – City Light and Night Photography
• Grand Teton National Park Nightscape – Dark Sky Astrophotography

Brooklyn Astronomy - Andromeda Galaxy from Tripod

Astronomy? Impossible to understand and madness to investigate.

— Sophocles, c. 420 BCE

Brooklyn Astronomy -  Andromeda Galaxy from Tripod - Canon 40D

NYC Solar Eclipse

Location: New York City (JFK Airport area)
Date: November 3, 2013

While waiting for the highly anticipated appearance of Comet ISON in late 2013, I took the opportunity to document a partial solar eclipse visible from New York City. Capturing a solar eclipse from an urban environment like NYC is always challenging due to weather, haze, and city infrastructure—but even a partial eclipse at sunrise offers a unique and atmospheric view.

These images were taken during sunrise near JFK Airport, where the low Sun and eclipse geometry created dramatic silhouettes and warm tones. In one of the related photo sets, flocks of birds (mostly seagulls) are visible flying across the partially eclipsed Sun—an unexpected and fascinating detail that adds life and scale to the scene.

NYC Solar Eclipse November 3 2013

NYC Solar Eclipse JFK Airport Sunrise November 3 2013

NYC Solar Eclipse

In these additional images, numerous birds—mostly seagulls—can be seen crossing the Sun during the partial eclipse. This rare combination of urban wildlife and celestial mechanics makes the NYC solar eclipse especially memorable.

Related Solar Eclipse Photos from New York

• Solar Eclipse New York – 11/3/2013
• Solar Eclipse from New York – November 3, 2013 (Astrophotography)

Solar eclipse from New York November 3, 2013 - Astrophotography

This morning I photographed the solar eclipse from New York City near JFK Airport during sunrise. Here are some of my first photos from this session.

Solar eclipse - New York City  near JFK Airport - November 3, 2013
Canon 40D Brooklyn astronomy and astrophotography
Cross Bay, Sunrise
NYC Solar Eclipse

Solar eclipse New York  November 3, 2013, Astrophotography

The conditions were challenging, with clouds partially covering the Sun, but they also created unusual and beautiful effects that made the eclipse even more interesting to observe and photograph.

Solar eclipse 11/3/2013 New York, Astrophotography

The sunrise added a strong red color to the sky and clouds, making the eclipse scene even more dramatic.

Solar Eclipse  Nov.3 2013 and Seagull, NYC Astrophotography

In the first three images you can see a seagull flying across the eclipse. It is the same seagull, captured in different moments as it moved from right to left through the frame.

New York Solar eclipse 11/3/2013

Airplane, clouds and Solar eclipse, New York Solar Eclipse

One of the most interesting images from this session shows a small airplane near the eclipsed Sun. The airplane is tiny, but still visible, and because these photos were taken near JFK Airport, it adds a very distinctive New York feeling to the scene.

The clouds created another unusual effect. With the upper part of the Sun hidden by clouds, you can still see two bright spots below the cloud layer. These bright areas are produced by the partially eclipsed Sun shining through and around the clouds.

Partial Solar Eclipse New York City Astrophotography

In this photos you can see a group of about 20 seagulls flying through the area, adding even more movement to the morning sky during the eclipse.

Hybrid Solar Eclipse above North Channel Bridge from Cross Bay, New York City

In this photo the hybrid solar eclipse appears above the North Channel Bridge, seen from Cross Bay in New York City. The bridge near the horizon gives the scene a strong local landmark and helps show the eclipse in its real urban setting.

Morning Seagull is flying to the Solar Eclipse, New York November 3 2013, Astrophotography

I have many more photos from this morning solar eclipse session and will publish them later. The solar eclipse in New York City was an amazing event to watch and photograph.

More Solar Eclipse Posts

• Solar Eclipse New York - 11/3/2013
• NYC Solar Eclipse 11/03/2013
• New York City Solar Eclipse - June 10, 2021 - Astrophotography
• Tennessee Astrophotography - Great American Eclipse - Total Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017
• Annular Solar Eclipse - October 14, 2023 | Odessa, Texas
• Total Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024 | Westport, New York
• The Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024 during totality, seen from Westport, New York
• A Celestial Surprise: Capturing Comet SOHO-5008 During the Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024

Coronado SolarMax II 60 NexImage5

Sun 2013-10-26
Coronado SolarMax II 60,
NexImage 5 ccd,
Nexstar 4SE mount,
Two Barlows 2x each (Total x4),
Registax, Photoshop
Two Colors

NexImage 5, Coronado SolarMax II 60, Nexstar 4SE

NexImage 5 Coronado SolarMax II 60

Sun – October 26, 2013

This session was captured using a Coronado SolarMax II 60 hydrogen-alpha solar telescope paired with a NexImage 5 CCD planetary camera on a Celestron NexStar 4SE computerized mount.

Equipment:
Coronado SolarMax II 60 (H-alpha)
NexImage 5 CCD camera
Celestron NexStar 4SE mount
2× Barlow lens
Processing: RegiStax stacking + Photoshop false color

Coronado SolarMax II 60 NexImage 5

The NexImage 5 CCD camera records high-frame-rate video, allowing multiple frames to be stacked in RegiStax. Stacking improves signal-to-noise ratio and enhances fine chromospheric detail, including filaments, plages, and active regions.

After stacking, the image was processed in Photoshop and converted to false color to emphasize structure and contrast. Although H-alpha light is monochromatic, false coloring helps visually separate surface detail and prominence structures.

Telescope Coronado SolarMax II 60, Celestron NexStar 4SE Computerized Mount and NexImage5

This configuration combines the precision tracking of the NexStar 4SE GoTo mount with the high-frame-rate capabilities of a CCD planetary camera. When properly processed, the final image quality depends primarily on the optical performance of the Coronado SolarMax II 60.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Coronado SolarMax II 60 Telescope Sun Photo
• Coronado SolarMax II 60 + NexImage – RegiStax Panoramic
• Solar Prominences – Coronado SolarMax II 60 (Canon 40D)
• NexImage 5 Coronado SolarMax II 60 – False Color
• Celestron NexStar 4SE Canon 40D Live View – Sun Astrophotography
• Testing for Solar Eclipse 2017 – Coronado SolarMax II 60
• Tennessee Astrophotography – Great American Eclipse 2017

Solar prominences - Coronado SolarMax II 60 Canon 40D

Solar prominences captured with the Coronado SolarMax II 60 using a Canon 40D DSLR on a Celestron NexStar 4SE computerized mount.

Equipment:
Coronado SolarMax II 60 (H-alpha solar telescope)
Celestron NexStar 4SE mount
Canon EOS 40D
2× Barlow lens
Date: October 20, 2013

Exposure details:
ISO 200 · 1/6 second

Solar prominences - Coronado SolarMax II 60 Canon 40D

This image shows solar prominences only. The inner disk of the Sun is intentionally blocked (black area) so the exposure can be optimized for the faint outer prominences extending beyond the solar limb.

Compared to my earlier images taken with a NexImage planetary camera, this session used a DSLR mainly to compare imaging approaches rather than image quality itself. CCD planetary cameras and DSLR cameras each have their own advantages and limitations.

Planetary CCD cameras allow very fast frame rates and are less sensitive to mount stability, but require more time-consuming video stacking and post-processing. DSLR cameras capture single high-resolution frames, which makes post-processing much simpler, but they require a more stable mount and precise tracking.

When both imaging methods are used correctly, the final image quality depends primarily on the optical performance of the Coronado SolarMax II 60, not on the camera itself.

---

To simplify the setup, I switched from a piggy-back configuration to a direct mounting solution by using the Coronado Dovetail Mounting Plate for PST and SolarMax (Item #MEAD414-1).

Coronado Dovetail Mounting Plate for PST and SolarMax Item# MEAD414-1 and Coronado SolarMax II 60 

With this mounting plate, the Coronado SolarMax II 60 can be attached directly to the GoTo mount, greatly simplifying alignment and tracking.

Coronado SolarMax II 60 and Celestron 4SE Computerized Mount

This configuration made it possible to use even a heavier camera like the Canon 40D while maintaining accurate solar tracking.

In later posts, I show additional solar images captured with this setup and further refinements to the mounting and imaging process.

Related Posts – Coronado SolarMax II 60

• Coronado SolarMax II 60 Telescope - First View
• Coronado SolarMax II 60 Telescope – First Solar Images
• Coronado SolarMax II 60 + NexImage – RegiStax Panoramic Processing
• NexImage 5 Imaging with Coronado SolarMax II 60
• Coronado SolarMax II 60 + NexImage 5 – Color Comparison

Coronado SolarMax II 60 during the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse:

• Testing Coronado SolarMax II 60 for the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
• Great American Eclipse 2017 – Coronado SolarMax II 60 in Tennessee

Coronado SolarMax II 60 NexImage Registax Panoramic

Creating a full-disk solar panorama is not always straightforward when using a dedicated solar telescope and a CCD camera. With the Coronado SolarMax II 60 and NexImage CCD, the apparent solar disk can be too large to fit into a single frame at native resolution.

Instead of reducing magnification or sacrificing detail, I decided to apply a classical astrophotography solution: build a panoramic mosaic of the Sun.

The idea is simple in principle but requires careful planning in practice:

• Record multiple overlapping solar segments (in this case – three videos).
• Keep identical exposure, gain, and duration settings for each capture.
• Process all videos using the same stacking parameters in RegiStax.
• Export uniformly sharpened frames.
• Merge them using Photoshop → File → Automate → Photomerge.

Consistency is critical. If video duration, histogram levels, or wavelet sharpening differ between segments, the final mosaic will show visible seams. Proper overlap between frames is also essential to allow accurate alignment of solar features such as filaments and prominences.

This workflow is very similar to techniques used in:

• Nightscape panoramas (for example, multi-frame Milky Way images)
• Large-field “Rainbow Milky Way” mosaics
• Deep-sky mosaics when a single frame cannot capture the entire object

Solar mosaics require the same discipline — but with an additional challenge: the Sun evolves quickly. Prominences and surface detail can subtly change during capture, so recording segments efficiently is important.

The final result below demonstrates how three stacked segments were combined into a seamless panoramic solar image.

Coronado SolarMax II 60 NexImage, Registax, Final Panoramic 3 images, Astrophotography

This example shows that even with a compact solar setup, it is possible to produce high-resolution full-disk results by applying classical astrophotography mosaic techniques.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• NexImage 5 + Coronado SolarMax II 60
  High-resolution H-alpha solar imaging using Coronado SolarMax II 60 with NexImage 5 and RegiStax processing.
• Solar Prominences — Coronado SolarMax II 60 + Canon 40D
  H-alpha solar prominences captured with Coronado SolarMax II 60 and DSLR — comparison of imaging approaches.
• Celestron NexStar 4SE + Canon 40D — Live View Solar Astrophotography
  Solar photography using a compact 4-inch SCT setup and DSLR — demonstrating accessible daytime astrophotography.
• Saturn — Celestron NexStar 4SE + NexImage
  Planetary imaging workflow with small telescope and CCD camera — similar stacking and processing technique.
• Milky Way Casting Shadows — Atacama, Chile (Bortle Class 1)
  Example of panoramic astrophotography applied to extreme dark-sky nightscapes.

Coronado SolarMax II 60 Telescope

This post shows my first view of the Coronado SolarMax II 60 — a dedicated hydrogen-alpha solar telescope designed exclusively for safe daytime observation of the Sun. Here I focus only on the telescope itself, mounting options, and initial setup. Actual solar images and results are shown in separate posts.

Unlike regular telescopes that require external solar filters, the Coronado SolarMax II 60 includes a built-in H-alpha filter system. This allows direct observation of the Sun’s chromosphere, revealing prominences, filaments, and active regions when paired with a stable mount and camera.

For solar observation, a good mount is critical. The Sun moves quickly across the sky, and accurate tracking makes observation and imaging much easier. For my initial setup, I used a simple piggy-back configuration on a Celestron NexStar 4SE mount. This allowed me to take advantage of the GoTo system for easy solar tracking.

Coronado SolarMax II 60

Coronado SolarMax II 60

Below is the piggy-back configuration using a Celestron NexStar 4SE. This simple setup allowed me to quickly align and track the Sun using the GoTo mount. Later, this configuration was further modified and improved — those changes are described in follow-up posts.

Celestron 4SE and piggyback Coronado Solarmax 60

Coronado Solarmax 60 piggy-back

Celestron 4SE, Solarmax 60

Piggy-back Coronado 60 Celestron 4SE

Piggy-Back Mount for Celestron NexStar 4 (Item# BRKTPIG4)

This first setup proved that even a simple piggy-back mount can work well for solar observation. In later posts, I show the actual solar images captured with this setup, as well as further mount refinements.

Related Posts – Coronado SolarMax II 60

• Coronado SolarMax II 60 Telescope – First Solar Images
• Coronado SolarMax II 60 + NexImage – RegiStax Panoramic Processing
• Solar Prominences – Coronado SolarMax II 60 (Canon 40D)
• NexImage 5 Imaging with Coronado SolarMax II 60
• Coronado SolarMax II 60 + NexImage 5 – Color Comparison

Celestron Stereo Binocular Viewer # 93691

I recently received the Celestron Stereo Binocular Viewer #93691, and these photos show it mounted on my Celestron 4SE telescope.

Using a binoviewer noticeably changes the visual observing experience. Viewing with both eyes feels more natural and relaxed, and the image appears more immersive — almost like a subtle 3-D or IMAX-style view, especially when observing the Moon and bright planets.

One of the biggest advantages is how comfortable it makes observing. Eye strain is reduced, it is easier to stay focused, and sharing the telescope becomes more enjoyable. This is especially helpful for kids and beginners, who often find it easier to look through a binoviewer than a traditional single eyepiece.

Overall, the Celestron Stereo Binocular Viewer 93691 is a fun and practical upgrade for visual observing. It adds comfort, improves the viewing experience, and makes outreach sessions more engaging.

Celestron 4SE and Binoviewer

Celestron Stereo Binocular Viewer  93691 and 4SE

 

Celestron 4SE and Celestron Stereo Binocular Viewer  93691

Conclusion:
After spending time with this setup, the binoviewer has become one of my favorite visual accessories. It may not replace traditional eyepieces for every situation, but for relaxed observing and sharing the sky with family and friends, it adds a sense of depth and enjoyment that makes the telescope feel new again.

Related Astrophotography & Gear Posts

• The Moon — Astrophotography with Celestron NexStar 4SE & Canon 40D — Early lunar imaging from my first DSLR setup.
• Connecting Canon EOS to Celestron NexStar 4SE — T-Adapter & Barlow Assembly — Step-by-step setup for DSLR planetary imaging with T-adapter and barlow.
• Bahtinov Focus Mask — Astrophotography on Celestron 4SE — Using a Bahtinov mask to dial in precise focus for deep sky imaging.
• Zhumell 20×80mm SuperGiant Astronomy Binoculars — Wide-field observing with large binoculars — great for the Milky Way.
• Explore Scientific 82° Series 8.8mm Eyepiece — Review & images with a high-contrast wide-field eyepiece.

RegiStax 6 vs. 5 comparison - Jupiter Celestron 4SE

Here is an example of the difference between Registax v5 and v6 for Jupiter (Jupiter with Ganymede Moon and Ganymede Shadow Transit, September 18, 2010 - Celestron 4SE)

Registax v6 - Wavelet - Gaussian Initial Layer 3 Used Linked Wavelets with denoise 1 and 2 layers, RGB shift

Registax 6, Celestron 4SE, Jupiter

Registax 5, Celestron 4SE, Jupiter

Some clouds are more visible in Registax v6, the shadow and Ganymede moon looks better. So my opinion Registax 6 gives better result with Used Linked Wavelets.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• RegiStax 6 - Astrophotography Saturn - Testing new version v6
• Saturn Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope RegiStax NexImage
• Jupiter 2010 Opposition - Celestron 4SE NexImage Registax
• The Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024: An HDR Revelation of the Sun's Corona from Westport, New York
• Blue Moon November 21 2010 Celestron 4se Canon 40D

Saturn opposition, RegiStax 6, Celestron 4SE telescope

Saturn opposition 2011 - Celestron 4SE

Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope, NexImage, 2x Barlow lens, UV/Infrared Cutoff Filter (1.25")

April 3, 2011 12:26AM (EST)


Video duration 7 min (420sec), Frame Rate 5 frames/second, 2100 frames.

Registax v6 - Align Default, 16 align points, Drizzling Optimization, Wavelet - Gaussian Initial Layer 3 Used Linked Wavelets with de-noise 1 and 2 layers, Zoom, RGB shift

Photoshop CS3 - Crop, Curves... - Auto with Highlight Color 210 210 210 , Save for Web Device jpg

T-Adapter-C90 and Barlow T-Adapter 1 1/4 inches and T-ring for Canon EOS and Canon 40D

This post is the first part of a small series showing how to connect a Canon EOS DSLR to the Celestron NexStar 4SE for prime-focus astrophotography. Before assembling anything, here are the individual components you need: the T-Adapter-C90, Barlow T-Adapter 1¼ inches, a Canon EOS T-ring, and the Canon EOS 40D camera body.

Photographing the parts separately helps beginners understand how each piece looks and where it will eventually fit in the optical path. Later posts in this series will show the full assembly and the final connection to the telescope.

T-Adapter-C90, Barlow T-Adapter 1 1/4 inches, T-ring for Canon EOS, Canon 40D - Astrophotograpgy adapter setup for Celestron 4SE 

Components Shown in the Photo

• Canon EOS 40D DSLR camera body
• Celestron T-Adapter-C90 (93635-A)
• Barlow T-Adapter 1¼ inches (Celestron 93640)
• Canon EOS T-ring

This post only shows the individual pieces. In the next steps, you will see how these parts combine into a full optical train for prime-focus imaging or higher-magnification setups using the 1¼-inch Barlow T-Adapter. By understanding the components first, it becomes much easier to follow the later assembly photos and the final telescope-to-camera configuration.

Assembly Series: Connecting a Canon EOS Camera to the Celestron NexStar 4SE

• Part 1 – Components: T-Adapter-C90, Barlow T-Adapter 1¼", T-ring, Canon 40D (this page)
• Part 2 – NexStar 4SE with T-Adapter-C90 and Canon EOS 40D
• Part 3 – Assembled configuration with Barlow T-Adapter and Canon EOS 40D
• Part 4 – 4SE telescope with Barlow T-Adapter 1¼", Erect Image Diagonal, and Canon EOS 40D

Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from New York City

From the public, his discovery brought cheers. 

From his wife, it drew nothing but torrents of tears. 

"For you see," said Ms. Halley, 

"He used to come daily; 

Now he comes once every 70 years!" 

--Astronomy Jokes

In October 2010, the bright green comet 103P/Hartley 2 passed relatively close to Earth, offering a rare opportunity for urban astrophotography. This series was captured from Brooklyn, New York City — under heavy light pollution — using a piggyback DSLR setup mounted on a Celestron NexStar 4SE.

Despite the challenges of NYC skies, stacking multiple exposures revealed the comet’s distinct green coma, caused by glowing diatomic carbon (C₂) molecules in its atmosphere.

Image 1: Stacked result showing the comet within the surrounding star field.

Image 2: Closer crop revealing the bright coma.

Image 3: Maximum zoom view highlighting the comet nucleus region and surrounding glow.

Comet Hartley 2, Celestron 4SE Canon 40D Brooklyn

Capture Details

Object: Comet 103P/Hartley 2 (The Green Comet)
Date: October 12, 2010
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Camera: Canon 40D
Mount: Piggybacked on Celestron NexStar 4SE
Lens: Canon EF 28–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM
Focal Length: 28mm
Exposure: 27 × 60 seconds
ISO: 1250
White Balance: Daylight
Total Integration Time: 27 minutes

Processing Workflow

Urban light pollution required careful processing:

• Stacking performed in DeepSkyStacker
• Light pollution reduction using Photoshop (Median Noise Filter + Gaussian Blur)
• Final contrast and color adjustments in Photoshop

The embedded video below demonstrates the light pollution removal process and stacking workflow.

For techniques on reducing light pollution, see Removing Light Pollution in Urban Astrophotography, where I demonstrate advanced processing from Golden Gate Bridge skies.

Piggyback Setup – Behind the Scenes

The following images were taken during daytime and show the full piggyback configuration used for capturing Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from Brooklyn.

The Canon 40D DSLR was mounted on top of the Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope using a dedicated piggyback bracket (Item #BRKTPIG4). This configuration allows the telescope mount to track the sky while the DSLR captures wide-field images.

Brooklyn Astrophotography, Celestron 4SE PiggyBack, NYC Astronomy

PiggyBack Camera Mount for Celestron NexStar 4SE (Item# BRKTPIG4), Comet Photo Setup, Brooklyn NYC Astrophotography

NYC Astrophotography, Celestron 4SE

Celestron 4SE and Canon 40D - NYC Astrophotography

Urban Comet Imaging – A Challenge Worth Taking

Capturing a comet from New York City is always a technical challenge. High skyglow, limited visibility, and atmospheric haze make faint objects difficult to detect. However, with careful stacking and processing, even a suburban or urban observer can document transient celestial visitors.

Comet 103P/Hartley 2 was especially memorable because it was visited by NASA’s EPOXI spacecraft during its 2010 flyby — making backyard imaging even more exciting.

Comets Over New York City – 14 Years Apart

Urban comet imaging has always been one of the most challenging and rewarding forms of astrophotography. Fourteen years after capturing Comet 103P/Hartley 2 from Brooklyn, I photographed another bright visitor over New York City — Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC .

The contrast between these two comet encounters is striking. In 2010, Comet 103P/Hartley 2 was faint and not visible to the naked eye from New York City. Its position had to be calculated using ephemerides, and a wide-field piggyback setup was required to locate and capture it through stacked exposures.

By comparison, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) was significantly brighter and easily visible without optical aid. Using a more modern Canon EOS Ra, a much simpler imaging approach was possible — sometimes the sky itself provides the spectacle without the need for complex techniques.

Together, these two comets illustrate different faces of urban comet photography: one a technical challenge requiring precision and persistence, the other a rare and unforgettable naked-eye visitor over the New York skyline.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) visible in NYC
• Removing Light Pollution – Urban Astrophotography (Golden Bridge, LA)
• M42 Orion Nebula – iOptron SkyTracker NYC
• Jupiter 2010 Opposition – Celestron 4SE