Observation by Robin Leadbeater: Comet 2025 K1 (ATLAS) Spectrum

Uploaded by

Robin Leadbeater

Observer

Robin Leadbeater

Observed

2025 Nov 16 - 01:54

Uploaded

2025 Nov 21 - 10:34

Objects

Spectrum
C/2025 K1

Equipment

ALPY 200 Spectrograph
ALPY 600 Spectrograph
ATIK 428 Camera
Celestron C11 SCT 280mm aperture f5.5

Exposure

12x300s, 20x300s

Location

Wigton, Cumbria, UK

Target name

C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)

Title

Comet 2025 K1 (ATLAS) Spectrum

About this image

This comet (currently fragmenting) shows a rare, unusual spectrum of a carbon chain depleted comet, devoid of the usual carbon-based emissions of CN C2 but with strong NH2 emission bands in the red. The graphic shows a 15 second exposure from the spectrograph guider with the fragmenting coma on the slit, raw uncalibrated spectrum images taken using ALPY200 and ALPY 600 spectrographs (using a wider than usual 35 micron slit to maximise the captured light) and the final spectra (red and grey) compared with a typical solar system comet 2020 F3 (NEOWISE) in blue. The NH2 band wavelengths are marked in green.

Spectra downloadable from the BAA spectroscopy database

Files associated with this observation

2025_K1_RL_THO_20251115-16.png (461.7 kB)

Like this image

Dominic Ford, Alun Halsey, Mike Harlow

Copyright of all images and other observations submitted to the BAA remains with the owner of the work. Reproduction of work by third parties is expressly forbidden without the consent of the copyright holder. By submitting images to this online gallery, you grant the BAA permission to reproduce them in any of our publications.

Registered charity no. 210769
Registered company no. 117572

For more information including contact details, click here.

Our Terms of Use are here.

Our Privacy Policy is here.