Joshua Tree National Landmark is in Utah, not to be confused with Joshua Tree National Park in California. The comet comes every 80,000 years.
This image is from October 15, 2024. I am a very last minute person and was not even aware there was a comet. A timely email from Royce Bair on October 14 got my attention. Thanks Royce!
It pays to know your immediate surrounding area. I knew there were square miles of Joshua trees about 20 minutes from where I live but I have never photographed them to my satisfaction, until now.
Conditions were perfect. A near full moon added light to the foreground so not everything was totally dark. The base shot was about 15 minutes after sunset and the horizon was still glowing.
I purposely underexposed the image because I wanted to blend the comet which I knew would be visible later but the sky a bit darker.
In another 15 minutes or so the comet became visible and I blended the shots. It was not that difficult because there was still a bit of glow on the horizon when we could see the comet.
To the naked eye you could see the comet, but what the camera picked up was amazing. There were a few other people at the spot I picked and they got nice shots from their phones.
Still Visible
Space.Com says Watch Hunter’s Moon supermoon team up with Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in free livestream today
That Space.Com post from Oct 17, so you can go out and watch in person or watch their live view.
In general, the comet will be visible in the West, a bit after sunset. If you have clear skies and an unblocked horizon to the west, you can spot it. Binoculars help.
Three Previous Posts – Great Basin
- Stella Lake: Great Basin National Park – Stella Lake Sunset
- Bristlecone Pine Hike: Great Basin National Park – Bristlecone Pine Trail
- Snake Creek: Great Basin National Park – Snake Creek
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Mike “Mish” Shedlock
Too cool, Mike. Doubly cool!😃
Great shot, Mish! It’s a good tip that the full moon illuminated the ground. Now I know where to go for great Joshua tree images – I like the low, jagged mountains in the background.
Very beautiful!!
Hello, it’s us! Those other people with the phone pics and telescope! This picture turned out very awesome! What an experience it was to watch the heavens show. God bless!
Thanks – Apologies for the delay in responding. You are now free to comment at will.
Mish