New SWAN comet low in the evening sky Nick James (28 Feb 2021 23:14 UTC)
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Re: [BAA Comets] New SWAN comet low in the evening sky
Richard Miles
(01 Mar 2021 19:13 UTC)
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Re: [BAA Comets] New SWAN comet low in the evening sky
Americo Watkins
(01 Mar 2021 19:47 UTC)
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Re: [BAA Comets] New SWAN comet low in the evening sky
Richard Miles
(01 Mar 2021 20:47 UTC)
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New SWAN comet low in the evening sky Nick James 28 Feb 2021 23:14 UTC
On February 25 Michael Mattiazzo (Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia) reported on comets-ml a possible comet in SWAN spacecraft data moving north through Pegasus. He noted that the comet appeared to be brightening at magnitude 11-12 and would be visible low in the northern hemisphere evening twilight. The position on Feb 25 was approximately 23h 23m +13 deg. Various unsuccesful searches were made for the comet and it was listed on the NEOCP on February 27. I tried searching for it yesterday evening (Feb 27) using a Canon EOS550D and a 200mm, f/2.8L on a Star Adventurer mount but had no luck due to haze near the horizon. Finally, on February 28 the comet was imaged by Krisztián Sárneczky (K88), Michael Jaeger (A71) and Luca Buzzi (204). Following Michael's alert this evening I had another go with my 200mm lens and managed to detect the comet as shown in the attached image. It is around 11th magnitude. Using the precise positions from tonight it appears that the comet was detected yesterday on an image taken by Nico Lefadeux using a 200mm lens but this is not confirmed. The ephemeris below is based on a very short arc but it should help to find the comet over the next few days. Astrometry of this new comet would be very valuable. Date (UTC).d RA Dec delta r elong mag ---- -- ---- ------------- ----------- ------ ------ ----- --- 2021 02 28.0 23 27 12.088 +13 01 42.62 1.4591 .68093 23.7 14.5 2021 02 28.2 23 28 07.040 +13 10 04.88 1.4591 .68201 23.8 14.5 2021 02 28.4 23 29 01.708 +13 18 25.78 1.4591 .68309 23.9 14.5 2021 02 28.6 23 29 56.124 +13 26 43.95 1.4591 .68415 23.9 14.5 2021 02 28.8 23 30 50.693 +13 34 59.00 1.4591 .68521 24.0 14.5 2021 03 01.0 23 31 45.634 +13 43 12.14 1.4591 .68627 24.1 14.5 2021 03 01.2 23 32 40.679 +13 51 24.49 1.4591 .68732 24.2 14.5 2021 03 01.4 23 33 35.444 +13 59 35.53 1.4590 .68836 24.2 14.5 2021 03 01.6 23 34 29.958 +14 07 43.77 1.4590 .68939 24.3 14.5 2021 03 01.8 23 35 24.628 +14 15 48.85 1.4590 .69041 24.4 14.5 2021 03 02.0 23 36 19.675 +14 23 52.00 1.4590 .69143 24.4 14.6 2021 03 02.2 23 37 14.830 +14 31 54.42 1.4590 .69245 24.5 14.6 2021 03 02.4 23 38 09.707 +14 39 55.54 1.4590 .69345 24.6 14.6 2021 03 02.6 23 39 04.335 +14 47 53.83 1.4590 .69445 24.6 14.6 2021 03 02.8 23 39 59.122 +14 55 48.89 1.4590 .69544 24.7 14.6 Nick James.