[BAA Comets] C/2017 O1

[Nick James]

Given that most comets are discovered by professional surveys when they 
are very faint it is most unusual that this comet has been discovered by 
the ASASSN team at around 15th magnitude (although JJ Gonzalez has 
reported it as bright as mag 10). It is currently in Cetus, moving 
slowly northward. Details of the orbit were announced on CBET 4414 
issued this afternoon. The magnitude parameters would imply that it has 
been brighter than 17th mag since the beginning of May but it may be in 
outburst.

I've put some preliminary charts and an ephemeris on the BAA website here:

https://britastro.org/node/10782

The charts show the path from the beginning of May through to perihelion 
in October when it will be tracking north through Perseus. If the 
current orbit is accurate it will actually pass near the north pole 
around Christmas.

There is a nice image of it by Rolando Ligustri on Space Weather here:

http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=137135&PHPSESSID=4ujl1oqqt9iqn7ujre9g8ccgh6

Nick.