Don Machholz discovers Comet No 11

[CometGuy]

A new comet - discovered by Don Machholz - has just been announced in IAUC 9132. Although new comet discovery's are pretty common this one was found visually using an 18" reflector. This is the first time in 4 years that a comet has been discovered visually.

Congratulations to Don!

The orbit is yet to be calculated properly, but it appears to stay close to the sun and remains exclusively visible from the northern hemisphere. Currently it is magnitude 11.

Terry

[astroron]

Good one Don:), It's good to see amateur astronomers can still find them:thumbsup:

[duncan]

Congratulations Don:thumbsup: Hope you find plenty more.
Cheers,
Duncan

[Kevnool]

I got the astro alert this morning.
Great visual find.

[Starkler]

And visual observers at that :D

[astroron]

Geoff ,I actually meant to say that:thumbsup:

[gary]

Congratulations to Don! :thumbsup:

As you mention Ron, it's all the more extraordinary for amateurs to find them these
days against the backdrop of automated surveys and professional searches for NEO's.

Incredible effort.

Best regards

Gary

[Liz]

Congrats too Don :thumbsup:
Any comet is a good comet, I love them, but hopeless in finding them, unless they are big enough to jump out at me :shrug:
Got an alert through yday saying it was visible in the the SWAN imagery, but couldnt find it. :sadeyes:

[Paddy]

Indeed what a find. Congratulations.

[Outbackmanyep]

The comet is definitely in morning twilight but not visible from our perspective, it's below the great square of pegasus as we see it.