[BAA Comets] C/2017 T2 PANSTARRS

[Nick James]

This comet was discovered in 2017 September and it has just emerged from 
solar conjunction. It will be well placed from the norther latitudes 
right through to its perihelion next May. There are some details here:

https://www.britastro.org/node/18553

and a chart here:

https://www.britastro.org/sites/default/files/2017t2.pdf

At present the comet is a morning object moving slowly through Taurus. 
Current magnitude estimates on COBS range from 8.7 to 14.3 although the 
brighter estimates appear to be outliers and would imply that the 
comet's absolute magnitude is huge at its current distance (r=3.7au). 
The estimates are here:

https://cobs.si/analysis2?plot_type=0&end_date=2019/08/04%2000:00&col=comet_id&fit_curve=1&obs_type=0&id=1703&start_date=2017/11/20%2000:00

Since the comet is so well placed for us over the next 8 months I 
encourage members to observe it at every opportunity. In particular 
total magnitude estimates, either visual or electronic, would be very 
welcome over the next couple of months to help tie down the lightcurve. 
This should be a good opportunity to use our Comphot software to make 
estimates through the apparition and compare them with estimates made 
using other methods. Help on using Comphot and download details are here:

https://www.britastro.org/node/11124

Contact me if you have any questions.

Nick.