拍彗星是一種浪漫，那發現彗星呢？

最近Neowise彗星成為了當之無愧的天文明星。而在前不久，有一位低調的QHY600用戶發現了一顆新的彗星。他的名字叫Leonardo Amaral。

而他發現的新彗星已經被正式以他的名字命名：C/2020 O2 (Amaral)

和我們平時接觸的天文愛好者不同的是，Leonardo是業餘科學家群體中的一員--他們不追求漂亮的圖像，而是更多地與理論和數據打交道，衝在人類的宇宙探索最前沿，探索人類不曾發現的宇宙。QHYCCD一直熱心支持全世界業餘科學家們的探索事業，為他們提供設備支持或資金援助，Leonardo就是其中一員。這次我們採訪了Leo，和大家一起分享業餘科研生活的點滴。

採訪者：Davylee, 以下簡稱D

被採訪者：Leonardo Scanfelra Amaral，以下簡稱L

自我介紹：

「大家好，我是Leonardo Scanfelra Amaral，今年35歲。現在我是一名在銀行工作的系統分析師，擁有計算機碩士學位。 我現在居住在裡約。在距離我家1000公裡外的在Bilac-SP，我擁有一個自己的小型天文臺。我把它取名為「Campo dos Amaral」。它已經在MPC註冊。」

My name is Leonardo Scanfelra Amaral. I&39;s degree in the field. I live in Rio de Janeiro-RJ Brazil. I have a small remote observatory located in Bilac-SP. 1000km away from my home. The name of the observatory is &34;. He is registered in the MPC with the code X74.

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D: 首先恭喜你發現了新的彗星！可以向我們簡單介紹一下發現工作的流程嗎？

Congratulations to your finding! Can you briefly introduce the process of your finding this new comet?

L:非常感謝。作為發現過程中的不可或缺的一環，我很感謝QHY的幫助。

大約在三年前我開始為NEOs (Near-Earth Object )做小型的研究項目。我自行開發了程序使自己的整個天文臺能夠全自動化，這樣我就可以遠程操作了。在天氣允許的情況下，它可以整夜工作。同時我還在使用另一個巴西朋友自己開發的軟甲來解析圖像，用以尋找彗星、小行星這樣的移動目標。迄今為止我已經發現了3顆主帶小行星、3顆近地小行星剛剛發現的這顆彗星。

除此之外，天文臺的監控系統一直在不斷發現新的宇宙物質。3年來，數以千計的小天體被發現和報告。

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L: Thank you very much. QHY is part of that discovery.

Almost 3 years ago I started a small survey to search for NEOs (Near-Earth Object ). I developed software to automate the entire observatory and thus be able to operate remotely. He operates every night in good weather and all night long. I also use software developed by another Brazilian to analyze images in search of moving objects, such as asteroids and comets. In these 3 years I found some new objects:

3 - Main Belts

3 - NEOs

and now 1 - Comet

In addition, the observatory monitors objects already discovered and also recently discovered objects. Thousands of these objects have already been captured and reported in these 3 years.

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D: 當你確認自己「真的發現了一顆彗星」的那一刻，是怎樣的心情？

What&34;you&34;

L: 最開始我打了一個寒顫……然後就是開心。發現一顆新的彗星就好像出發去一趟釣遊然後捕到了你的本命魚一樣。難以言表的心情。

At first I felt a chill in my belly. Then a great feeling of joy. Finding a comet is like going on a fishing trip and catching the fish of your life. An incredible emotion.

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D：How&39;s searches and carry out the analysis of the objects found. This task is very dynamic, we are always participating in the definition of new objects found recently. This makes work enjoyable.

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D: 你現在使用的設備有哪些？

What devices are you using to capture comets?

L: 目前我使用的設備有：

相機：QHY600；

赤道儀：艾頓CEM60-EC。之後會升級到CEM120EC2 ;

望遠鏡：GSO 12 &34;Truss tube f4. (With the replacement of the assembly, it will be possible to use a larger OTA. Maybe a C14 + Hyperstar. But there is still a lack of financial resources to make this exchange.

With this setup I cover a FOV of almost 2 square degrees and I can reach mag 19.6 in 60s of exposure. I cover almost 320 square degrees per night.

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D: 你就僅僅在使用QHY600的幾周後就發現了新的彗星。能分享一下這段日子的使用體驗嗎？

You found the comet only weeks after you used QHY600. Could you please tell us your comment of this device？

L: 更換相機對我來說至關重要。我非常感謝QHY對我的支持和幫助。我們需要更多這樣的合作。

實測已經證明，QHY600在靈敏度方面的表現要比我之前的設備（QHY16200A）好得多。同時讀取圖像的速度比之前快了非常非常多，這樣我每天就能掃描更廣的天區了。

新的QHY600表現非常好，我可以得到比原來大一半的圖像，多覆蓋30%以上的天區。這樣發現新天體的機率提高了很多。

Changing the camera was essential for making this discovery. I am grateful to QHY for their help in this exchange. We need more companies like that.

The QHY600 proved to be a much more sensitive camera than the old one (QHY16200a). I also had a drastic reduction in the download time of the images, so I can cover a larger area.

The new camera is behaving very well and I am managing to reach a half magnitude deeper in the captured images and cover a 30% larger area. With that the chance of finding new objects has improved a lot.

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D: 想對同樣希望發現新天體的同好們說些什麼嗎？

Any advice to those who want to find out asteroids/comets too?

L: 堅守你的夢想。一切皆有可能。努力就有收穫。

Believe in your dreams. It's possible. Dedicate yourself a lot and certainly see the fruits of your work reaping.