Comet Machholz (C2004 Q2)

Gallery and Resources

Photos and video taken from my home in Drake, Colorado:
40° 28.17' N  105° 19.824' W - 7014' Elevation

Equipment: Canon Digital Rebel, 50mm f/1.8, 18mm-55mm f/3.5, Barndoor Tracker
Processing Software: Jasc Paint Shop Pro, RegiStax, Adobe Photoshop Elements

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Machholz's Mysterious Curved Tail...     I am looking for images of Comet Machholz taken between January 16th, 2005 and January 18th, 2005 to aid in a study on the effects of solar activity on the ion tail of comets... This phenomena is clearly displayed by an unusual "S" curvature to the ion tail seen in a photo of Comet Machholz C2004 Q2, taken on January 17th... For more information, "Click on this Banner!"

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Photo showing Geminid Meteor passing near Comet Machholz on December 14th, 2004

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Sky map showing path of Comet Machholz early to mid February, 2005
Map generated with Starry Night Software®

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Comet Machholz Photos

Below are photographs of Comet Machholz which became visible in Northern Colorado in early December of 2004... Photos will be added to this page through the duration of Machholz's visit... Check back often for updates and new additions to the gallery... Most recent images are at the top of the page... 

(Click on images for full size view)

Comet Machholz Video

3.13MB animation of Comet Machholz on Dec 14th, 2004

Video showing the "Curse of the Clouds".

5.7MB animation of Machholz setting on the morning of December 17th

Video of Comet Machholz setting in the west over Rocky Mountain National Park.
Possible mild Auroral activity visible also.

5.9MB animation of Comet Machholz on Christmas evening, Dec 25th

Video showing movement of Comet between 10:30pm and 11:45pm MST on Christmas evening 2004.
Light oddity from full Moon acting on camera lens during time-lapse.

Informational Links

Comet Machholz Ephemeris

New Comet Now Visible To Naked Eye

Astronomy Photo of the Day - Announcing Comet Machholz

C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) - Complete Information Resource

New Comet Brightening Daily 12.31.04 Update

The Discovery of Comet Machholz - Article by Don Machholz

For the very best deals on equipment I recommend visiting Binoculars.com

More of my astro-photos, as well as scenery photographs I have taken, may be found at
these other sites featuring my photography:

Storm Mountain Graphics

Spacew.com - My Gallery

For information regarding use and/or licensing of photos
displayed on this page, please contact:

Darrell E. Spangler
P O Box 22
Glen Haven, CO  80532

or email here!