C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS) (Jacob Nowatzke)

C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)

Acquisition type: Electronically-Assisted Astronomy (EAA, e.g. based on a live video feed)

Comet C/2017 K2 near the star HD 234512 in (the head of) Draco, taken ~0600UT 03.06.2020. Also caught it the next day, but the seeing was so poor, it truly was not worth posting- before I could wait for improvement, clouds of course moved in. It was nice to capture a comet, as I haven't since 47P/Ashbrook–Jackson a couple years prior with a Canon 6D. The improvement of the ASI1600MM-P over the DSLR is very pleasing, even if there is no color with only luminance filter. Tonight's data indicated that the comet has moved ~6.5' approx. west, further into the Draconian "head"- it will cross the imaginary line between γ Draconis (Eltanin) and ν Draconis around 13.06.2020 and will exit the head around 03.07, passing between β Draconis (Rastaban) and NGC 6386- passing much closer to the ~15mag galaxy- around 05.07. From there, it will "loop" into the eastern leg of Hercules, and on towards Vega before coming back to Hercules's thigh, and at some point becoming much more visible than >16mag as it is here!

Some very interesting articles on this comet, as it seems to already be putting on a show more spectacular than Hale-Bopp did on its approach. It won't come as close to Earth to put on such a show as that magnificent 90s show, but at any rate it seems to me that this is a promising target to keep in mind for the future.

This capture wasn't a detailed study at only a few frames, but it was appropriate for getting re-acquainted with planetary objects in both the small patch of sky available in my backyard, as well as during a >80% waxing Luna! It was also fun to capture a comet so early on in its approach, making it something special for me personally.

Image was poorly guided due to seeing and classic mount issues, image was stacked in DSS, basic levels/curves, annotation addition in PS, left uncropped.

Original
Final
B

B

Description: Added marker to indicate position of comet.

Uploaded: ...

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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	3580719
PixInsight job	R6G1HK45P8N4GYTFES8VYEZRR9S8H6F0
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	TASK_LOG

RA (center)	17h52m32s.284
RA (top/left)	17h49m48s.630
RA (top/right)	17h55m30s.593
RA (bottom/right)	17h55m19s.583
RA (bottom/left)	17h49m31s.435

Dec (center)	+53°23′12″.93
Dec (top/left)	+53°01′19″.58
Dec (top/right)	+53°03′48″.39
Dec (bottom/right)	+53°44′56″.70
Dec (bottom/left)	+53°42′20″.80

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