2022e3 20230208 mmckenna

 One more sketch made on Feb 8th/9th between 21.30 and 21.45 UT, from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland using a 10" F/5 reflector with 26mm 2" SWA eyepiece. 

Sky semi dark, moon unseen low in sky behind cloud. Comet overhead, mag +6, DC: 4/ coma: 12 arc mins or more. Comet in same telescopic field as mag +2.7 Iota Aurigae, the star was bright gold in colour which looked very dramatic with the ghostly comet to the star's west. Coma had a soft but bright condensation, over all the coma had a subtle blue-green tinge. Long tail observed extending through entire field and beyond, at least 2 degrees. On the comet's E side was an elongated enhancement extending out from the coma, likely a section of the gas tail. CCD images showed the dust tail wider than this however I could only see the brighter portion and hence why I have shown it as slimmer and straight here.

Sketch made from memory next day based on log book notes. Stars are ficitious in field.