Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Boötes (Boo)  ·  Contains:  Solar system body or event
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C2021 A1 (Leonard) 2021-12-04, BillyBoyBoy
C2021 A1 (Leonard) 2021-12-04, BillyBoyBoy

C2021 A1 (Leonard) 2021-12-04

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C2021 A1 (Leonard) 2021-12-04, BillyBoyBoy
C2021 A1 (Leonard) 2021-12-04, BillyBoyBoy

C2021 A1 (Leonard) 2021-12-04

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Description

Comet C/2021 A1, imaged on December 4, 2021 at 5AM.  It was after enduring my first rainstorm while imaging (I was prepared, but surprised that the passing clouds came with a bath), and the effort through the earlier part of the night on another object was a bust due to high clouds I did not see until I checked my images the day after.  However, my pre-dawn plan to catch this comet was successful with clear skies and a beautiful lightning show in the distance.  I was surprised how the tail revealed itself to extend off the sensor, even though I had framed the comet's core near the opposite corner.  I love how, in the image, that tail reveals itself more with averted vision, just like in the eyepiece!

Little did I know that 24 hours before, the comet flew almost right in front of M3.  I imaged the morning before and the morning after that flyby, so another lesson in planning and paying attention to such events!  Fast moving comets can be a lot to keep up with.

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C2021 A1 (Leonard) 2021-12-04, BillyBoyBoy