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Old 22-12-2015, 02:36 AM
Jerry_Lodriguss (Jerry Lodriguss)
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Voorhees, NJ, USA
Posts: 104
The Christmas Comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina)

We have a reasonably bright comet that is visible this Christmas week.

Comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) exhibits two tails in this image taken on December 20, 2015.

http://www.astropix.com/C2013_US10_Catalina.html

Click on the image or link to see a larger version with more information.

Right now, it bright enough to be easily visible in binoculars from a reasonably dark observing location.

Interestingly, this comet will only be visible once in our lifetimes as it is currently headed out of the solar system in a hyperbolic orbit and its velocity is not great enough to escape the Sun’s gravity.

This is a single 10-minute exposure shot with a 5-inch refractor at f/4.7 at ISO 800 with the scope tracking on the comet’s nucleus, which is why the stars are trailed.
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