Observation by Nick James: Comet 96P/Machholz

Uploaded by

Nick James

Observer

Nick James

Observed

2023 Feb 02 - 12:48

Uploaded

2023 Feb 05 - 00:09

Objects

96P Machholz

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Constellation

Sagittarius

Field centre

RA: 19^h08^m
Dec: -22°11'
Position angle: +172°42'

Field size

20° × 20°

Equipment

STEREO-A HI-1

Location

119.25 deg ecliptic longitude

Target name

Comet 96P/Machholz

Title

Comet 96P/Machholz

About this image

The brightest comet around on February 2nd was not C/2022 E3 (ZTF). It was actually the sungrazer 96P/Machholz which was probably 4th magnitude when this image was taken. Unfortunately it was only 8 degrees from the Sun so not observable from the Earth. The STEREO-A narrow angle Heliospheric Imager (HI1) did get to see it though. The comet just sneaked through the lower left corner of the image. A timelapse is here. The field of view of HI1 is around 21 deg square and this image is ecliptic south up. The Scutum star clouds are lower right and Sagittarius is in the centre. I've processed these images by removing the very bright solar F-corona from the raw FITS files.

Files associated with this observation

96p_20230202_124831_stereo.jpg (574.1 kB)

Like this image

Mike Harlow, Peter Carson

Comments

Mike Harlow, 2023 Feb 05 - 08:22 UTC

Excellent animation. And I guess it's Mercury at right near 19h 45m -21.

Mike.

Nick James, 2023 Feb 05 - 23:24 UTC

Yes, it is Mercury.

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