Observation by Nick James: Two comets and the Sun

Uploaded by

Nick James

Observer

Nick James

Observed

2020 Dec 14 - 16:09

Uploaded

2020 Dec 17 - 15:49

Objects

C/2020 X3
C/2020 S3 (Erasmus)

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Constellation

Ophiuchus

Field centre

RA: 17^h00^m
Dec: -20°36'
Position angle: -169°00'

Field size

20° × 13°

Equipment

Sony A7s, 100mm f/2 lens

Exposure

76x1/40s

Location

Fortin Nogueyra, Argentina

Target name

C/2020 S3

Title

Two comets and the Sun

About this image

This is a stack of frames taken during the eclipse with the intention of detecting C/2020 S3 but it also picked up the SOHO sungrazer, C/2020 X3. The background has been removed using a median subtract with radius 20 pixels. It goes down to around mag 7 close to the Sun. The long axis is around 22 deg and S is approximately up. C/2020 S3 is the normal green colour due to CN but C/2020 X3 is yellow probably due to sodium emission as the comet is vapourised by the sun.

Files associated with this observation

Fig 5 Eclipse and two comets.jpg (6.6 MB)

Like this image

David Basey, Callum Potter, Tim Haymes, Gary Poyner, Robert Ian Henderson

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