Comet 46P Wirtanen for December 06 2018 UT

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

It's big!!
46P for 06 December 2018 UT.
Coma diameter 70 arc minutes, magnitude 4.8 visual.
46P was easily visible direct vision, from Bortle 2 skies.
Plus a montage from September through December.

[tel.lekatsas]

Great stuff Justin. It is big - it fills the view in my binos. It's easy to find in the binos but I'm still trying to convince myself I've seen it naked eye using averted vision from Bortle 3 skies.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Thanks Tel :)

Very tricky to do naked eye, only need a slight deterioration in seeing and it disappears.

[astronobob]

Nice ones Justin, You have this one very well covered, spectacular resulting images !
I'm in bortle 6 sky and doubt seeing it in binos, took a few frames around the area and believe I have it, so 10 x 60secs with the 8" f4 newt aswell - could see it moving between frames,,,

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Thanks Bob :)

Yikes, bortle 6! Yep 46P is moving quickly, won't be long and it will be gone for us southerners.

[ChrisM]

Good captures Justin - I wish I had your dark sky, as I'm struggling to get the green colour with the comet in the north. (My southern sky is darker.)

Cheers, Chris

[strongmanmike]

Great capture and cool montage Justin :thumbsup:

Mike

[Regulus]

Nicely done Justin. That first picture is pretty much how it would look to me without my glasses :-)