In this photo by Jimmy Westlake taken Tuesday morning, April 27, stone monoliths
in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah cast ghostly silhouettes against the
dust-laden sky as comet Bradfield rises.
M31, the Andromeda
Galaxy, is visible to the comet's upper left as a fuzzy yellow patch. At
about 2 million light-years away, the galaxy is the most distant object visible
to the unaided eye.
One needs binoculars to enjoy Bradfield. Westlake brought out its detail by
making a 4.5-minute exposure. He used a Fuji S2 digital camera with a 35 mm
wide-angle lens at f3.3, ISO 400. The scene was shot 4:46 a.m. local time. Click
here
for a larger version.
The recently discovered Bradfield is one of three
comets skywatchers may enjoy this spring. It has journeyed in from the far
reaches of the solar system, rounded the Sun, and is on its way back out there.
Credit: Jimmy Westlake
