My humble NEOWISE

Sent: Friday, July 10, 2020 5:48 PM to my team at work, "kicking myself for not getting up."

I made up for.  Sunday AM I got up on my own with no alarm at ~4:25AM EDT.  Drove over to a big field between Cary and Holly Springs I believe it's part of the Southeast area of Swift Creek, NC, to get this…. 

 

 

FULL resolution here

I had my alarm set for 4:45AM when the comet was supposed to clear the horizon.  I didn't account for ~10 min to drive to this spot, but I awoke on my own anyway.  I made the short trip only to find that I didn't have the tripod adapter I assumed I had packed the night prior.  I didn't feel the time to return back home and to the site again was time well spent, soinstead decided to lean the camera and adapter shoe straight on the quiet, rural road instead of the tripod itself.  Only later, after I got home did I realize that I had the 'missing' adapter on the binoculars as well.  Regardless I was able to hold the camera and 70->200mm zoom lens still enough for the planned 5s subs for several tens of minutes!  Refocusing by hand, without a trip was quite challenging, but in the end I'm glad I was able to pull it all out.

I did have to move from the road when a car passed by.  A few minutes later I had a 2nd car visit and this one stopped.  This is why I hate being alone on rural roads at that hour.  Turned out a fellow local observer had the same idea as I did.  We chatted for sometime but never exchanged info.  Hopefully someone can show him this photo taken from Pierce Olive Rd near the old cow pasture!