MY WEEK'S TRIP TO PALMERSTON NORTH, NZ (Ian Cooper's - Glen Auroa)

With the advent of naked eye Comets 2001 Q4 (NEAT) and 2002 T7 (LINEAR) being in the same western sky together in May 2004 I was looking forward to much cometography (photographing comets) with my recently purchased Canon EOS 10D digital SLR camera. However Gisborne, which normally prides itself on fine, sunny weather decided to pack a major sad as a southerly followed by an easterly onshore wind created much cloud and rain. With this dismal forthcoming weather forecast I decided to head southwest to the other side of the Tararua mountain range in search of fine nights. Contacting my old mate, New Zealand astronomer extraordinare, Ian Cooper, I stayed with him for about a week. We had five nghts in a row of great nights and then I went to the Wairapa to the Phoenix Astronomical Societies Ahiaruhe observatory complex for more astrophography...

The following are some images from my highly enjoyed and eventful trip - cheers Coops...

CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER VIEW...
Comet 2001 T7 (LINEAR)
	Comet 2002 T7 - Tues 18th May 2004	T7's 43* tail - Wed 19th May 2004
Comet 2002 T7 - Wed 19th May 2004	Comet 2002 T7 - Wed 19th May 2004 - enhanced	Comet 2002 T7 - Thurs 20th May 2004
Comet 2002 T7 - Thurs 20th May 2004	Comet 2002 T7 - Fri 21st May 2004	Comet 2002 T7 - Fri 21st May 2004
Panorama shots showing both T7 and Q4...
	Comets T7 and Q4 in the same western field	Comets T7 and Q4 in the same western field (2)
Comet 2001 Q4 (NEAT) - Mon 17th May 2004	Comet 2001 Q4 (NEAT) - Mon 17th May 2004	Comet 2001 Q4 (NEAT) - Wed 19th May 2004
The following are miscellanious images...
	The Small and Large Megallanic Clouds	Crux and Pointers (Emu's upper body)
Scorpio area from Ahiaruhe, Wairapa, NZ	Galactic centre rising behind poplar trees	Galactic centre rising behind the 'ghost house'