Comet C/2014 Q2 (LoveJoy)

This image is listed in my catalog below, and was taken on January 25th, 2015 at the Wilson Coulee Observatory, using my 4″ Refractor on an German Equatorial Mount using my Cannon 60Da DSLR using prime focus.  I have other images of this comet that I may post later

Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is a long-period comet originating from the Oort cloud, which passed its perihelion on 30 January 2015, at 1.290 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. This comet was a naked-eye object in January and February 2015. At perihelion, its water production rate exceeded 20 metric tons/s.

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is a long-period comet discovered on 17 August 2014 by Terry Lovejoy using a 0.2-meter (8 in) Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope. It was discovered at apparent magnitude 15 in the southern constellation of Puppis. It is the fifth comet discovered by Terry Lovejoy.

Its blue-green glow is the result of organic molecules (mostly Diatomic carbon) and water released by the comet fluorescing under the intense UV and optical light of the Sun as it passes through space.

Don’t miss the chance to explore the Comet impressive portfolio. It’s worth checking out!