Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)—VIII

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) is growing dimmer in the evening sky although is still visible in binoculars. Longer exposures are now necessary to reveal the fan-shaped tail.

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) in the evening sky.
Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) in the evening sky.
Comets C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), C/2019 U6 (LEMMON), and C/2017 T2 (PANTARRS).
Comets C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), C/2019 U6 (LEMMON), and C/2017 T2 (PANTARRS).

The second image is a wider view that shows that Comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) and Comet C/2019 U6 (LEMMON) are also visible albeit both are very small and faint. M53, a globular cluster, and M64, a spiral galaxy, are also visible and labeled. A full-size version of this image (~2.1 MB) is also available.

These images are a stack of five images each 120 seconds at ƒ/4, 85mm, and ISO 400. The shooting location was Sunset Crater National Monument, an International Dark Sky Park.

Pictures from the Parks

National Parks, that is. Here are several photographs taken this winter in the National Parks and Monuments that are in northern Arizona.

Sunrise at Wukoki Pueblo, Wupatki National Monument.
Sunrise at Wukoki Pueblo, Wupatki National Monument.
Sunrise at Wukoki Pueblo, Wupatki National Monument.
Sunrise at Wukoki Pueblo, Wupatki National Monument.

These two images were taken shortly after sunrise at Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument. A recent snowstorm had brought snow to lower elevations and I was hoping there would be some snow at this location. No snow but the sunrise was still pretty nice.

New snow covers Sunset Crater.
New snow covers Sunset Crater.

Later that morning in Sunset Crater National Monument, where there was new snow, a small amount of snow on the namesake crater helping to reveal its subtle textures.

Low clouds and fog near the Unkar Delta in Grand Canyon
Low clouds and fog near the Unkar Delta in Grand Canyon
Clouds lift out of Grand Canyon.
Clouds lift out of Grand Canyon.

The next two images are from Grand Canyon National Park at sunrise. A recent minor storm had left some low clouds and fog in the lowest reaches of the canyon. As the sun rose higher and the canyon walls warmed the fog was lifted up and out of the canyon producing some eye-level clouds for a brief moment.

Moonrise over North Rim of Grand Canyon.
Moonrise over North Rim of Grand Canyon.

Finally, we have a panorama of the rising nearly-full Moon in late afternoon. Wonderful!