←MLO Comets!
Observed for the
Astronomical League's
Comet Program
Marie Lott, Atlanta, GA
Updated 06/09/24 01:51 PM -0400
 

The following comets were observed using different cameras and techniques.
Many of the comet images and observations have been submitted to the ALPO comet section.

The first set of 12 comets are shown below. The second set is available here. Current total tally: 35

This set (#1-12):      
21P/Giacobini-Zinner 48P/Johnson 38P/Stephan-Oterma C/2016 N6 (PANSTARRS)
C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) 37P/Forbes 64P/Swift-Gehrels C/2018 Y1(Iwamoto)
29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE) 46P/Wirtanen 123P/West-Hartley
       
Second set (#13-35):      
60P/Tsuchinshan C/2018 A6 (Gibbs) 260P/McNaught C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)
114P/Wiseman-Skiff C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) C/2018 W2 (Africano) C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) C/2019 U6 (Lemmon) P58/Jackson-Neujmin 88P/Howell
2P/Encke 156P/Russell-LINEAR C/2020 M3(ATLAS) 398P/Boattini (2020)
141P Machholz C/2021 A2 (NEOWISE) C/2020 R4 (ATLAS) C/2020 T2 (Palomar)  
2021 67P (Chuyumurov-Gerasimenko) C/2022 E3 (ZTF) C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)    

   

1.  Comet 21P-Giacobini-Zinner
Click to view larger
  Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 10.2 comet in Cepheus

Date
: 7/11/2018 05:48 UTC

Location: Sharon GA (33.553879, -82.761069)

Conditions
: S 8/10; T 8+/10; SQM 21.67; 25° C; 79% humidity; no moon

Scope: Celestron 8" SCT @ f/5

Camera
: Mallincam DS10c + 0.5x focal reducer

Exposure details: Fifteen 5-second exposures were average-stacked live with dark frames over a period of ~10 minutes, ending at 05:48 UTC (input/output 100 frames). No filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
  Center (RA, hms): 22h 00m 03.451s
  Center (Dec, dms): +55° 56' 48.235"
  Size: 23.1 x 17.4 arcmin
  Pixel scale: 1.21 arcsec/pixel
  Orientation: Up is 269° E of N (East is up, North is right.)
     
 
     
2. C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS)
Click to view larger
  Comet C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS)

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 9.3 comet in Norma

Date
: 7/20/2018 14:23:37 UTC and 15:19:04 UTC

Location: Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (331:16:30.6 S, 149:11:40.3 E)

Conditions
: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network. Eight-day moon just setting during exposure 1; moon below horizon during exposure 2

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: SBIG STL6303E

Exposure details: Two 45-second exposures spaced 55 minutes apart. No filter.

Image 1 details from astrometry.net:
  Center (RA, hms): 16h 07m 26.028s
  Center (Dec, dms): -54° 28' 11.837"
  Size: 27.8 x 18.5 arcmin
  Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
  Orientation: Up is 7.97° E of N
Image 2 details from astrometry.net:
  Center (RA, hms): 16h 07m 16.153s
  Center (Dec, dms): -54° 28' 55.271"
  Size: 27.8 x 18.5 arcmin
  Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
  Orientation: Up is 7.97° E of N 
C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) - click to blink
Click for blink of the two C/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) images, cropped, showing movement over 55 minutes
   
 
     
3.  29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann    Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 15.1 comet in Capricornus

Date
: 9/14/2017 12:47:45

Location:  Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (331:16:30.6 S, 149:11:40.3 E)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: SBIG STL6303E

Exposure details: Three 60-second exposures were stacked. No filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 21h 08m 38.919s
 Center (Dec, dms): -14° 39' 38.988"
 Size: 27.1 x 17.7 arcmin
 Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 351° E of N
   
 
    
4.  49P/Johnson    Comet 48P/Johnson
with galaxy PGC 80667 (mag 16.7), bottom left


Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 14.6 comet in Aquarius

Date
: 8/7/2018 12:31:27 UTC

Location:  Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (331:16:30.6 S, 149:11:40.3 E)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: SBIG STL6303E

Exposure details: Two 60-second exposures were stacked. No filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 22h 43m 20.959s
 Center (Dec, dms): -22° 40' 48.190"
 Size: 27.8 x 18.6 arcmin
 Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 351° E of N

       
5.1  37P/Forbes    Comet 37P/Forbes
 
with bright star TYC 0589-0522-1, plus galaxies PGC 1274468 and PGC 3092233

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 13.7 comet in Pisces; comet confirmed in Astrometrica with measured photometric magnitude of 14.263

Date
: 8/7/2018 13:31:58 UTC

Location:  Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (331:16:30.6 S, 149:11:40.3 E)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: SBIG STL6303E

Exposure details: One 60-second exposure. No filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 23h 43m 00.981s
 Center (Dec, dms): +04° 56' 08.256"
 Size: 27.9 x 18.6 arcmin 
 Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 351° E of N

         
5.2 37P/Fprbes   Comet 37P/Forbes (3 days later)
with bright stars HD 222520 and HD 222463


Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 13.7 comet in Pisces; comet confirmed in Astrometrica with measured photometric magnitude of 16.87

Date
: 8/10/2018 18:39:33 UTC

Location:  Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (331:16:30.6 S, 149:11:40.3 E)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: SBIG STL6303E

Exposure details: One 60-second exposure. No filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 23h 41m 32.267s
 Center (Dec, dms): +05° 17' 47.914"
 Size: 27.8 x 18.5 arcmin 
 Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 352° E of N
       
6. C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE)

Click below for blink of the ten C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE) images, cropped, showing movement over 17 minutes:
C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE) - click to blink
  Comet C/2018 N1 (NEOWISE) discovered 2 July 2018
with bright star TYC 6186-0720-1 (Mag 10.65, NE) and distant galaxies
PGC 898406 (mag 16.62/450Mly, W), PGC 896951 (mag 16.56/540Mly, SW)


Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 16.0 comet in Libra; Astrometrica measured photometric magnitude of 14.224

Date
: 8/13/18 12:34:36 UTC

Location:  Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (331:16:30.6 S, 149:11:40.3 E)

Conditions: Remote telescope

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: SBIG STL6303E

Exposure details: One 60-second exposure. No filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 15h 45m 41.315s
 Center (Dec, dms): -16° 26' 51.068"
 Size: 27.8 x 18.6 arcmin
 Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 353° E of N
       
7.  38P/Stephan-Oterma    Comet 38P/Stephan-Oterma
 

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 9.3 comet in Gemini

Date
: 11/5/2018 11:45:29 UTC

Location:  Sonoita, Arizona USA (31:39:56 N, 110:36:06.4 W)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: Andor IKON-L 936

Exposure details: One 30-second exposure. Luminance filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 07h 20m 27.687s
 Center (Dec, dms): +19° 52' 11.716"
 Size: 27.6 x 27.6 arcmin 
 Pixel scale: 0.81 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 4.24° E of N

       
8.1  64P/Swift-Gehrels    Comet 64P/Swift-Gehrels
 

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 11.1 comet in Andromeda

Date
: 11/5/2018 5:18:21 UTC (poor seeing)

Location:  Sonoita, Arizona USA (31:39:56 N, 110:36:06.4 W)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: Andor IKON-L 936

Exposure details: One 30-second exposure. Luminance filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 00h 53m 20.465s
 Center (Dec, dms): +36° 55' 12.710"
 Size: 27.6 x 27.6 arcmin 
 Pixel scale: 0.809 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 4.35° E of N

8.2  64P/Swift-Gehrels    Comet 64P/Swift-Gehrels
 

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 11.3 comet in Andromeda

Date
: 11/18/2018 4:40:55 UTC

Location:  Sonoita, Arizona USA (31:39:56 N, 110:36:06.4 W)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: Andor IKON-L 936

Exposure details: One 30-second exposure. Luminance filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 01h 15m 09.416s
 Center (Dec, dms): +36° 11' 56.402"
 Size: 27.6 x 27.6 arcmin 
 Pixel scale: 0.809 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 4.25° E of N

       
9.  46P/Wirtanen    Comet 46P/Wirtanen

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 6.2 comet in Fornax

Date
: 11/15/2018 13:31:24 UTC

Location:  Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (331:16:30.6 S, 149:11:40.3 E)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: SBIG STL6303E

Exposure details: Two 30-second exposures No filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 02h 06m 34.707s
 Center (Dec, dms): -31° 24' 13.517"
 Size: 27.8 x 18.5 arcmin 
 Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 351° E of N
       
10.  C/2016 N2 (PANSTARRS)


Field w/o comet from Sky Safari :
C/2016 N6 FoV 
  Comet C/2016 N6 (PANSTARRS)

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 14.4 comet in Canis Major

Date
: 2/2/2019 12:52:51 UTC

Location:  Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (331:16:30.6 S, 149:11:40.3 E)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: SBIG STL6303E

Exposure details: One 60-second exposure. No filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 06h 13m 17.096s
 Center (Dec, dms): -22° 13' 03.607"
 Size: 27.8 x 18.5 arcmin 
 Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 351° E of N 
       
11. Click for animation of travel over 30 minutes:
C2018 Y1 (Iwamoto)
  Comet C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 10.1 comet in Leo-Cancer

Date
: 2/14/2019 06:03 UTC (midpoint of exposures)

Location: Sharon GA (33.553879, -82.761069)

Conditions
: S 8/10; T 7/10; SQM 19.98; 3° C; 80% humidity; 63% moon

Scope: Celestron 8" SCT @ f/10

Camera
: Mallincam DS10cTEC

Exposure details: 15-second exposures were live-stacked with dark frames & auto-captured every 30 seconds over a period of 30 minutes. The resulting images were combined in PIPP to create this animation. No filter.

Image (left) details from astrometry.net:
  Center (RA, hms): 9h 22m 24.997s
  Center (Dec, dms): +22° 37' 21.703"
  Size: 27 x 20.2 arcmin
  Pixel scale: 2.02 arcsec/pixel
  Orientation: Up is 307° E of N (East is up, North is right.)
       
12. Comet 123P West-Hartley   Comet 123P/West-Hartley
 

Comet magnitude & location:  Mag 12.6 comet in Ursa Major

Date
: 02/26/2019 8:32:22 UTC

Location:  Sonoita, Arizona USA (31:39:56 N, 110:36:06.4 W)

Conditions: Remote telescope via Sierra Stars Observatory Network

Scope: Planewave 20" CDK @ f/6.8

Camera: Andor IKON-L 936

Exposure details: One 60-second exposure. Luminance filter.

Image details from astrometry.net:
 Center (RA, hms): 11h 28m 39.865s
 Center (Dec, dms): +31° 56' 46.665"
 Size: 18.7 x 18.7 arcmin 
 Pixel scale: 1.09 arcsec/pixel
 Orientation: Up is 4.25° E of N