Comets

• 12P/Pons-Brooks in 2024  
• ZTF C/2022 E3 in 2023
• Leonard C/2021 A1 in 2021
• NEOWISE C/2020 F3 in 2020
• ATLAS C/2019 Y1 in 2020
• Iwamoto C/2018 Y1 in 2019
• 46P/Wirtanen in 2019
• PanSTARRS C/2016 R2 in 2018
• Johnson C/2015 V2 in 2017
• 252P/LINEAR in 2016
• Catalina C/2013 US₁₀ in 2016
• Lovejoy C/2014 Q2 in 2015
• Jacques C/2014 E2 in 2014
• PanSTARRS C/2012 K1 in 2014
• LINEAR C/2012 X1 in 2014
• Lovejoy C/2013 R1 in 2013
• ISON C/2012 S1 in 2013
• PanSTARRS C/2011 L4 in 2013
• LINEAR C/2011 F1 in 2012
• Garradd C/2009 P1 in 2011-2012
• 103P/Hartley in 2010
• Lulin C/2007 N3 in 2009
• 17P/Holmes in outburst late 2007
• LONEOS C/2007 F1 in 2007
• McNaught C/2006 P1 in 2007
• SWAN C/2006 M4 in 2006
• 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in 2006
• Machholz C/2004 Q2 in 2005
• NEAT C/2001 Q4 in 2004
• Ikeya-Zhang C/2002 C1 in 2002
• LINEAR C/1999 S4 in 2000
• Hale-Bopp C/1995 O1 the Great Comet of 1997
• Hyakutake C/1996 B2 in 1996
• Swift-Tuttle 1992t in 1992
• Levy 1990c in 1990
• Austin 1989 c1 in 1990
• 1P/Halley in 1986

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12P/Pons-Brooks in April 2024

Left: Imaged on 4-5 April 2024 at 01.58 UT. The comet was then 4^th magnitude with a strong central condensation. Not driven. 15 s exposure. The comet lay 1.2° NW of the mag 6.1 star 26 Ari (the bright star on the left-side of the image), low in the evening twilight.

Right: Taken on 7-8 April 2024 at 01.56 UT. The comet was getting lower in evening twilight. 13x6 s exposures.

Both images (cropped) taken with a DSLR camera with a 135 mm focal-length telephoto lens in Arkansas, USA. North is towards the upper-right.

ZTF C/2022 E3 in January 2023

Imaged on 29-30 January 2023 at 02.55 UT. The comet was then 6^th magnitude with a strong central condensation. It then was on the boder of Draco and Camelopardalis.

Image (cropped) taken with a DSLR camera with a 200 mm focal-length telephoto lens. 9x20 s exposures. North is towards the bottom-left. The 8-day old moon was high in the sky. The transparency was moderate.

The comet lies 16' SE of the mag 6.7 star HIP 52464 (the bright star to the left of the comet).

Leonard C/2021 A1 in 2021

Left: The comet on 30^th November 2021 at 10.31 UT. The Comet was then an 8^th magnitude object on the borders of Coma and Canes Venatici.

Image (cropped) taken with a DSLR camera with a 530 mm focal-length 106 mm refractor. 10x15 s exposures. North is towards the top-left. The bright star in the bottom-left of the image is HIP 64827 (mag 8.4). The Comet lies 21' SSW of this star.

Middle: On 3^rd December 2021 at 09.26 UT. Same telescope as the first image. Single 15 s exposure before clouds moved in. M3 is also in the field.

Right: On 7^th December 2021 at 10.36 UT. Same telescope as the first image. 12x20 s exposures. Not cropped.

NEOWISE C/2020 F3 in July 2020

Left: The comet appeared low in the dawn sky on 9^th July 2020 at 08.06 UT. I estimated the coma as 2^nd magnitude. Image cropped with a 55 mm focal length lens. Topsfield, MA Town Hall is in the foreground. The gibbous Moon was in the sky. The Comet lies 6.0° E of the mag 2.6 star Theta Aurigae (the bright star in the right-hand side of the image).

Images taken with a DSLR camera

ATLAS C/2019 Y1 in April 2020

The comet on 22^nd April 2020 at 08.26 UT. The Comet was then an 8^th magnitude object in Cassiopeia.

Image (cropped) taken with a DSLR camera with a 200 mm focal-length telephoto lens. 7x20 s exposures. North is towards the bottom-left.

The comet lies 11' SE of the mag 7.2 star HIP 6547 (the bright star to the left of the comet).

Iwamoto C/2018 Y1 in February 2019

The comet on 14^th-15^th February 2019 at 23.59 UT. The Comet was another low surface brightness object, just after its closest approach to Earth.

Image (cropped) taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 500D) with a 530 mm focal length 106 mm refractor. 8x20 s exposures. North is towards the left. The gibbous Moon was in the sky.

The comet lies 15.7' SW of the mag 9.5 star TYC 1953 1684 (the star is labeled in the non-thumnail).

46P/Wirtanen in January 2019

The comet on 13^th January 2019 at 01.51 UT. The comet was low surface brightness object in Ursa Major. About a month after perihelion and closest approach to Earth (after a spell of cloudy weather).

Image (cropped) taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 500D) with a 200 mm lens. 16x30 s exposures. North is towards the left. The bright star (Omicron UMa) near the left edge of the frame is 1.9° from the comet.

PanSTARRS C/2016 R2 in February 2018

The comet on 15^th February 2018 at 00.58 UT. The comet was an 11^th mag object in Taurus. Although perihelion was due on 9^th May, the comet continued to recede from the Earth.

106 mm refractor at f/8. 10x60 second exposures. Taken with a SBIG ST-402ME CCD camera with a V filter. North is to the bottom in the 28'x19' field. The bright star at the bottom is PPM 93121 (mag 9.1).

Johnson C/2015 V2 in May 2017

The comet was imaged on 16^th May 2017 at 03.47 UT. I estimated the comet visually as 8^th magnitude. The star just to the bottom-left is 9.8 mag HIP 74937. It lies in Bootes, moving south-west.

Taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 500D) with a 200 mm lens. 12x20 s exposures. North is to the bottom-left in the cropped field (1.1° wide).

252P/LINEAR in April 2016

The comet was a large (ghostly) glow, 83' SW of the globular cluster M14 in Ophiuchus. Taken on 5^th April 2016 at 08.58 UT.

Taken with a DSLR (Canon 500D) on a 106 mm refractor at f/5. 8x15 second exposures. Cropped. The sky was slightly hazy and bright with reflected snow from the ground. Temp -6°C.

Catalina C/2013 US₁₀ in January 2016

Taken on 11^th January 2016 at 07.01 UT. The comet was a 6^th mag object in Canes Venatici, on the border of Boötes.

Taken with a DSLR (Canon 500D) on a 85 mm refractor at f/7 (no field-flattener was employed). 8x20 second exposures. The target was near the edge of the frame. North is towards the upper-left and the field is about 90' wide, cropped.

Lovejoy C/2014 Q2 in January 2015

Left: The comet on 10^th January 2015 at 00.42 UT. The comet was a 4^th mag object in southern Taurus. 10x20 second exposures. The comet is 38' from the bright star adjacent at the 5 o'clock position. Cropped. 200mm lens.

Middle: On 14^th January 2015 at 00:47 UT. The image was processed to bring out the faint tail (P.A. measured at 71°), the dark area around the coma is an artifact of this processing. 6x20 second exposures. Cropped. 200 mm lens.

Right: On 20^th January 2015 at 00:04 UT. The comet was now well north in Aries, 10° W of the Pleiades M45. 16x20 second exposures. Cropped. 55 mm focal length.

Images taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 500D) at ISO 800. North is to the bottom-left.

Jacques C/2014 E2 in August 2014

The comet on 5^th August 2014 at 08.03 UT. The comet was a 7^th mag object right on the border of Auriga and Perseus. Perihelion occurred 5 days previously.

106 mm refractor at f/8. 5x15 second exposures. Taken with a SBIG ST-402ME CCD camera. North is to the left in the 28'x19' field.

PanSTARRS C/2012 K1 in the Spring and Autumn of 2014

• The comet on 4^th March 2014 at 10.05 UT. The comet is an 11^th mag object in Hercules. It is still nearly six months from perihelion. 3x30 second exposures. North is up. The 13^th mag galaxy NGC 6186 is 6' away (top left). The outside temperature was -16°C.
• By 7^th May 2014 (at 01.39 UT) the comet was a more prominent (9^th mag) object. It was then in northern Canes Venatici. 4x60 second exposures. North is to the left. First quarter moon in the sky.
• On 18^th May 2014 the comet showed a prominent tail. 02.54 UT. The comet was then 22' E of chi UMa. The tail is in PA 97°. 3x60 second exposures.
• On 28^th September 2014, at 09.33 UT, the comet was a 7^th mag object low in the brightening morning sky in Hydra. 11 x 32 sec exposures with a DSLR camera. Cropped (field about 1.5° wide) and north is up.

106 mm refractor at f/8. The first three images were obtained with a SBIG ST-402ME CCD camera.

LINEAR C/2012 X1 in March 2014

The comet on 16^th March 2014 at 09.36 UT. The comet is an 9^th mag object in Aquila. Three weeks after perihelion, it is moving south-eastwards.

106 mm refractor at f/8. 3x60 second exposures.Taken with a SBIG ST-402ME CCD camera. North is to the left in the 28'x19' field.

Lovejoy C/2013 R1 and the Beehive Cluster in November 2013

The comet near the Beehive open star cluster, M44. 7^th November 2013 at 05.00 UT. The Comet was an easy binocular object. North is towards the right.

60 mm refractor operating at f/4.4 with 21x15 second exposures. Taken with a DSLR camera at ISO 800.

ISON C/2012 S1 before perihelion in 2013

• The comet in Nautical twilight (10.01 UT) on 14^th October 2013. 28 cm SCT (focal length 2800mm). 27' x 13' field. North is towards the left.

  The comet might not be this faint, as a dust doughnut overlapped the comet! NGC 3121 is a 13^th magnitude elliptical galaxy. Taken with a DSLR camera. 4x15 second exposures. North is towards the top.

• By 7th November 2013 at 05.39 UT, the Comet appears considerately brighter. Conveniently it was located just 33' WSW of the 3.6 mag star Beta Virginis (brighest star in the image).

  60mm refractor operating at f/4.4 with 21x15 second exposures. Taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 500D) at ISO 800.

  Compare this image with that of Comet Lovejoy 2013 R1 (above) taken on the same morning. The exposures were virtually identical.

PanSTARRS C/2011 L4 in March 2013

• The comet on 13^th March 2013 at 19.36 UT. The comet is an 2^nd mag object low in the western dusk, only 15.8° elongation from the Sun. The altitude was just 3°. This is very like the view through binoculars.

  100 mm focal length lens with a DSLR. ISO 800. From Rogerstown, Co Dublin.

• 60 mm refractor operating at f/4.7. 45 second exposure with a DSLR (at ISO 800). Taken on 31^st March 2013 at 20.46 UT. Varying cloud amount. North towards top-right.
• Passing near (2.7°) M31 galaxy in Andromeda. Details as on March 31^st, but now with 4x45 second exposures. 3^rd April 2013 at 20.50 UT.
• The comet on 5^th April 2013 at 21.11 UT. 4x45 second exposures at ISO 400 with a DSLR. 85 mm refractor operating at f/5.6. Cropped, north to top-left.

LINEAR C/2011 F1 in July 2012

The comet on 22^nd July 2012 at 03.12 UT. The comet is an 11^th mag object in Canes Venatici. It is moving south-east.

106 mm refractor at f/5. 10x20 second exposures.Taken with a SBIG ST-402 CCD camera. North is to the right in the 45'x30' field. Also two faint galaxies are visible in the image.

Comet Garradd C/2009 P1 in 2011-2012

Left: The comet on 31^st July 2011. From Stellafane star party, Vermont, USA 16X60 second exposures, started at 04.21 UT. North north-west is up.

Middle: The comet on 3^rd September 2011. The comet is passing below the Coathanger in Vulpecula. The open cluster NGC 6802 is towards the top-left. 16X45 second exposures, midpoint 03.10 UT. ISO 800. North is up.

Right: 19^th September 2011. 17x45 second exposures, midpoint 01.16 UT. ISO 800. North is top-right. The comet lies 16' from the star HIP 91169 in Hercules.

Far Right: 5^thFebruary 2012. A quick exposure during morning twilight. 3x30 second exposures, midpoint 10.50 UT. ISO 400. North is towards the left. The comet was then 1.7° from the globular cluster M92 in Hercules. f/3.65.

All taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 500D). Field 2.4° by 1.6°. 106 mm refractor, apart from indicated, at f/5.

103P/Hartley in autumn 2010

This periodic comet is passing close by the Earth in October 2010. It appeared as a low surface brightness object.

Left: 106mm refractor (f/5) with 6x15 second exposures. ISO 800 with DSLR camera, image cropped. 29^th September 2010 at 20.04 UT.
Middle: 106mm refractor operating at f/8 with 8x30 second exposures. ISO 800 with DSLR camera, image cropped, north towards right.
6^th October 2010 at 20.50 UT.
Right: 60 mm refractor operating at f/6.2 with 8x15 second exposures. ISO 800 with DSLR camera (Canon 500D), full frame (1.3° x 1.0°). 20^th October 2010 at 05.35 UT.

Lulin C/2007 N3 in March 2009

The comet in a bright moonlit sky on 5^th March 2009. Focal length 530 mm with 4X10 second exposures. The green colour of the comet is evident. Taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 350D).

17P/Holmes in outburst late 2007

This is usually a very faint periodic comet. However in late 2007 it suffered a tremendous outburst in brightness.

• 24^th Oct 2007. Camera lens focal-length 56mm, a 15 second exposure. With the naked-eye it looked for all the world like a nova.
• 28^th Oct 2007. Coma now larger and more diffuse. Details on image.

LONEOS C/2007 F1 in October 2007

Taken on 19^th October 2007 and about 18.30 UT. The comet was then low in the western sky in Boötes, the bright star is Eta Boötis. Composite of seven 15 second images taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 350D). ISO 1600. 60 mm refractor at 355mm focal length. The straight tail is faintly visible. That evening I estimated the magnitude of the comet as 5.9.

McNaught C/2006 P1 in January 2007

Photos (details) of Comet McNaught C/2006 P1 on 5^th and 10^thJanuary 2007. DSLR Camera (Canon 350D). This comet became a brilliant object from the southern hemisphere.

SWAN C/2006 M4 in October 2006

Photo (detail) taken on 12^th Oct 2006. Imaged with a DSLR camera (Canon 350D) using a 60mm refractor at focal-length 390 mm. The faint tail is visible.

73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in 2006

Never a very bright object, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann (previously called Schwassmann-Wachmann 3) passed throught the field of the famous variable star R Corona Borealis. Imaged on 22^nd April 2006. 60mm refractor, 355 mm focal-length with a DSLR camera (Canon 350D).

Machholz C/2004 Q2 in 2005

The comet passes near the M45 star cluster (Pleiades or Seven Sisters) on 8^th January 2005. The green colour of the comet is evident. Imaged with a digital camera (Nikon 4500). 1 minute exposure.

NEAT C/2001 Q4 in 2004

Comet NEAT lies just north of M44 the Beehive Cluster in Cancer on 16^th May 2004. Taken from Glencree, Co Wicklow. 50 mm camera lens, 2 minute exposure on Kodak Elite Chrome 200.

Ikeya-Zhang C/2002 C1 in 2002

The comet was, at its best, a fine 3^rd magnitude object in spring of 2002.

• The comet was in Andromeda about 5° S.E. of the M31 galaxy. 5 minute exposure, through cloud, with Fujichrome 200 on a 135 mm focal-length lens. 1^st April 2002 at 21.05 UT.
• 2.5 minute exposure with Fujichrome 200 on a 50 mm focal-length lens at f/2.8.
  Clear sky. 7^thApril 2002 at 21.44 UT. The blue ion tail was 5° in length to the naked-eye.

Both at Oristown, Kells, Co. Meath.

LINEAR C/1999 S4 in 2000

This comet was a binocular object in the summer of 2000.

21^st July 2000 at 00.05 UT. 30 second exposure with a ST-7 CCD on a 480mm focal-length 70 mm refractor (Pronto). In the Dublin sky glow, with a waning gibbous moon. Somewhat hazy sky.

Hale-Bopp C/1995 O1, the Great Comet of 1997

• The comet was then among the stars of eastern Cygnus on the morning of 2^nd March 1997 at 05.02 UT. Taken with a 50 mm focal-length lens on a fixed tripod (40 seconds undriven, Fujichrome 400). Transparent sky with last quarter moon. Carrigolligan, Co Dublin.
• 6^th March 1997 at 05.06 UT. The comet was on the borders of Cygnus and Lacerta. 50 mm camera lens with an exposure of 6 minutes. Sugar Loaf, Co Wicklow. Very slight mist.
• The comet on the morning of 13^th March 1997 at 05.05 UT. Taken with a 105 mm telephoto lens. (5 minutes, Ektachrome 400). Carrigolligan, Co Dublin.
• The comet on 21^st March 1997 at 04.27 UT. Taken with a 480 mm focal length refractor (70 mm Pronto). (5 minutes, Ektachrome 400). Sugar Loaf, Co Wicklow. Slight mist.
• The comet, in Andromeda, on the evening of 31^st March 1997. The blue Ion Tail is passing near the Perseus Double Cluster, while the cream Dust Tail curves towards Cassiopeia. Taken with a 50 mm camera lens f2.8. (6 minutes, Ektachrome 400). Stretched to show ion tail.
• The comet on the evening of 10^th April 1997. The blue Ion Tail is passing through Perseus, while the cream Dust Tail curves towards the Double Cluster. Taken with a 28 mm camera lens f2.8. (4 minutes, Fujichrome 400). The crescent moon is over exposed. Luggala, Co Wicklow.

Hyakutake C/1996 B2 in 1996

This comet was a spectacular naked-eye object, with a long tail, that passed near the north pole. At the time it was 0.12 AU from the Earth.

• 26^th March 1996 at about 23.45 UT. The comet is then just above Polaris. Camera lens focal-length 50 mm, a 2.5 minute undriven exposure!. At Killakee, Co Dublin.

Swift-Tuttle 1992t in 1992

The comet was a fine binocular object. I estimated it as mag 5.0. The comet lay 2.9° N of Theta Serpentis. 28^th November 1992 at 18.40 UT. From Carrigolligan, Co Dublin. Camera lens set at 210 mm. Driven (piggyback on a C8). Fujichrome 100 slide film. 5 min exposure.

Levy 1990c in 1990

The comet was readily visible to the naked-eye. I estimated it as mag 3.5. The comet lies 4.2° SSW of Theta Aquilae. 25^th August 1990 at 22.00 UT. From Barnaslingan, Co Dublin. 50 mm camera lens used with Fujichrome slide film.

Austin 1989c1 in 1990

The comet was then a 4^th magnitude object in Andromeda, a little west of the Andromeda Galaxy M31. A faint tail is visible pointing upwards. 27^th April 1990. From the Sugar Loaf, Co Wicklow. Camera lens used.

1P/Halley in 1986

The comet (marked) was then below the tail of Scorpius. Appeared mag 3½. A tail is visible pointing westwards. 2^nd-3^rd April 1986 (before dawn). From La Palma, Canary Islands.
50 mm camera lens used on tripod, exposure 30 s (non-driven). Scan from Kodak Ektachrome 400 film.

The next perihelion of Comet Halley is less than 40 years away - in 2061.