Comet C/2012 K1 (PANSTARRS) is back

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Sorry for all the comet posts but there's 3 interesting comets about at once. Comet 2012 K1 has returned to the morning sky sporting two tails, one looks like an anti-tail. It's about 12 degrees to the south from Jupiter at the moment and rising higher each morning. Looks like about magnitude 6 or so.

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

Sorry for all the comet posts

No keep them coming, I'm loving all your posts.
Due to cloud/family etc, I haven't had the time to photograph a single one of them so I'm living vicariously thru your posts

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Okay thanks, I'll keep torturing you all with them then.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Nice one Kevin

But if you're going to keep torturing us (what does it say about me when I like it ) with these comets, some of us are going to pick up pitch forks and demand lessons in capturing and processing

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

2012 K1 is putting on a nice show now. It's really stating to ramp up. Now visible in the 8 x 50 finderscope. Has two tails.

ED100 F7.2, 30 x 1 minutes, Pentax K-5.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

keep them coming Kevin, also enjoying all the comet action.
how long is this one expected to brighten?

cheers

Rusty

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Thanks Kevin, I will check this out in the morning.
The chart I have (from Astroblog) shows it at Mag. 6
What Mag. do you estimate it to be ?

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

keep them coming Kevin, also enjoying all the comet action.
how long is this one expected to brighten?

cheers

Rusty

Thanks Rusty. Perihelion was August 27 but close approach to Earth is October 30 so it will be bright for at least that long, but as it's past perihelion it may not brighten much further. However being a comet it's hard to say. They do as they please.

Originally Posted by gaa_ian

Thanks Kevin, I will check this out in the morning.
The chart I have (from Astroblog) shows it at Mag. 6
What Mag. do you estimate it to be ?

Ian, I think comet magnitude estimates are a black art and one that I have yet to grasp, but Yoshida's web page puts it at mag 6 also. The star on the right of the pic is mag 6.4.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Comet 2012 K1 from this morning (Friday 19 EST). 36 minutes, still or trailed with different processing. ED100, Pentax K-5. Details in pics.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Great work again Kevin!

The Friday morning pics are beautiful, love the symmetry with the two bright stars.

Cheers,

Justin.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Thanks Justin. This comet is quite interesting with the anti-tail. Cloud is forecast for a few days so thought I better try for it in spite of the nearby moon.

[glenc (Glen)]

Great images Kevin.
I saw the comet this morning, found it easily with 20x80 binoculars.
You can just see it with an 8x50 finder once you know where to look.
In my 16" it is bright, about 3' diameter, but the tail(s) are difficult.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Thanks Glen. Yes I saw it in the finder this morning also. Piccy from this morning. Sky transparency not so good this morning and only got 12 minutes through thin cloud.