2024e1 20260205 mmattiazzo

Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos rendezvous with the
Grus galaxy trio NGC 7582, 7590, 7599.
Image taken on 2026 February 05 at 11:30UT using a C11 RASA f/2.2 + Canon 6D. iso3200 10x30sec. FOV 2x1 deg. North up. from Strathalbyn, South Australia.
Visual estimate in 15x70mm binoculars = 7.2.
Note there are 3 tails on display here.
The long straight ion tail in PA127, a short dust tail fanning out at the same position angle as the ion tail (produced at the time of perihelion), then the broad fan out to the right in PA230 caused by heavy particles released from the comet early in its apparition, now trailing the comet. (a common feature of dynamically new comets)