Comet NEAT and Southern Constellations

Twilight has ended and a magnificent starry sky has appeared in the southwest. Comet NEAT is seen in the upper center of this photo, just below the star cluster M47 in the constellation Puppis. Below the comet is the constellation Canis Major, with its bright star Sirius. On the horizon is a mysterious light, possibly a flare dropped on a distant military range.

Date: May 6, 2004.
Time: 8:50 p.m. MST.
Location: South of Phoenix, Arizona.
Camera: Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR on homemade tracking mount.
Film: Kodak Ektachrome E200 professional slide (pushed one stop).
Focal length: 50 mm.
Aperture: f/2.8.
Exposure time: 4 1/2 minutes.
Scanner: Nikon Coolscan LS-2000.