COMET 2002 T7 (LINEAR) - 43* TAIL. Possum Observatory

On Wednesday 19.30 May 2004 I took a photo of Comet 2002 T7 (LINEAR) from a dark site in New Zealand. Later in the evening fellow Kiwi cometographer Ian Cooper and I traced the faint tail for 43 degrees up to Reticulum. Note that the tail was visible for about 12* in 10x50 binoculars. The image was a single 3 minute shot @ 1600 ASA on a Canon EOS 10D with a 24mm (x1.6 = 36mm) lens at f3.5 (FOV = 51* x 34*).

The following shows the original image and also 'stretched' images, in addition maps of the area is shown (excluding Canopus on the first one - Ian's program failed to plot it).

Can anyone else confirm this length of tail? - not that I doubt it, for I (and others I show the image to) can clearly see the tail extending to Reticulum...

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW...	DETAILS:
	Date (UT): Scope: Camera: Exposures and ISO: NOTES:	Wed 19.30 May 2004 24mm (x1.6 = 38mm) f3.5 Canon EF lens Canon EOS 10D digital SLR One x 3 minute @ 1600 ASA 43 degree long tai. High cloud.
		Same as above but stretched
		Same as above but stretched even more
		Same as above but stretched - as a negative
		A chart showing T7's field - note that Canopus did not print onto Ian's chart (courtesy of Ian Cooper, NZ)...
		Another chart showing T7's movement and tail length based on both mine and Ian's images on a nightly basis (courtesy of Ian Cooper, NZ)
		A closer view - 85mm (x1.6 = 136mm) FOV = 15* x 10*
		T7 - the next night (Thurs 20 May), still with a nice tail - not as long though...