Comet 2019Y4 (ATLAS) and 11 Galaxies: March 24, 2020 10:00 p.m. EDT
Hello and thank you for visiting. I imaged C/2019Y4 on Wednesday March 24, 2020 from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. As I was gathering data, I could see the comet moving closer for a drive by of what looks to be an irregular galaxy. I can’t find this object in any of the sky references. There is also an edge-on galaxy above my name plate that I can’t identify. If you have the ability to identify these objects or could point me in the direction for more detailed database, I would be most appreciative. Thanks again and clear skies.
Thanks to Dale Ghent for providing the annotated picture that shows the fuzzy galaxy in question is 16.97 magnitude PGC 2717206! Thanks Dale!
Acquisition details:
Astro-Physics 130EDF Gran Turismo with 2x Astro-Physics Advanced Barlow
ZWOASI294MC Pro with 1 minute subs at 183 gain. 10 stacked for stars and 122 for comet stacking.
ASI Air plate solving calculated a 1463mm focal length and the long edge of the FOV at 77 arc minutes.
Minor edge cropping of the field.
Zoom with the irregular galaxy at about the 5 o’clock position off of the comet nucleus.
Edge-on galaxy at bottom right corner.
Annotated image showing 11 galaxies in the field. Thanks Dale!
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Comet PanSTARRS (C/2017 T2) in Perseus
On February 2, 2020, 9th magnitude Comet PanSTARRS (C2017 T2) flew through the constellation Perseus near the Double Cluster (NGC 869) and the Heart and Soul Nebulae (IC 1805 and IC 1848). This photo captures the comet at the bottom center of the frame as a green-blue fuzzy coma with a very short tail. The comet at this time was approximately 244 million km away. The deep sky objects in the field are around 8,000 light YEARS away. Hard to put distances into perspective at the cosmic scale. This comet will be with us for a few months and may be seen very nicely in a 50mm pair of binoculars. For more information, please see the Sky and Telescope article here. Also, for an up to date location of the comet, see you favorite astronomy app. I use Sky Safari on the iPhone. Screen shot from the app is below.
Comet C/2017 T2 PanSTARRS. Click on image for larger presentation.
80 one minute exposures were combined and centered on the comet. Camera was the Canon Ra at ISO 1600 on the William Optics Redcat 51.
Comet on the night of February 2, 2020.
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