Rob_K
25-03-2016, 12:26 AM
Just a dot and not a pretty one at that, but this dot is the second closest known approach to the Earth by a comet, beaten only by the 0.0151 AU (5.9 Lunar Distances) approach of D/1770 L1 (Lexell) in July 1770.
http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/iau/lists/ClosestComets.html
The dot is comet P/2016 BA14 (PANSTARRS) which came to within just 9.2 Lunar Distances of Earth on 22 March 2016. Taken with a DSLR and 200mm lens in strong moonlight, the shot is within a couple of hours of closest approach. The comet is probably a fragment of 252P/LINEAR as there are strong similarities in their orbital elements. 252P came close to Earth on the previous night, 21 March 2016, at a separation of just 13.9 Lunar Distances.
Cheers -
http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/iau/lists/ClosestComets.html
The dot is comet P/2016 BA14 (PANSTARRS) which came to within just 9.2 Lunar Distances of Earth on 22 March 2016. Taken with a DSLR and 200mm lens in strong moonlight, the shot is within a couple of hours of closest approach. The comet is probably a fragment of 252P/LINEAR as there are strong similarities in their orbital elements. 252P came close to Earth on the previous night, 21 March 2016, at a separation of just 13.9 Lunar Distances.
Cheers -