Comet C/2021 A1 Leonard

The comet is just about detectable in this fixed-tripod 18mm shot (25 seconds) at 2.32UT this morning in Canes Venatici (circled). I'd estimate magnitude 7.6. Globular cluster M3 is arrowed and the comet will pass by extremely closely tonight; 5 arcminutes. Doesn't look like we'll see it here though. There's a chance Comet Leonard will become naked-eye visible in mid-December, but there's also talk that its brightening has stalled and may even be a candidate for disintegration. Current Earth distance is 45 million miles and perihelion is on January 3rd. My 39th comet.



Clear skies,
Finbarr.

Super shot, Finbarr!
Thank you. 
Is Alpha Canum (Cor Caroli) in your image?
I'm sure it is. 

Very best regards from Aubrey. 

It's actually not Aubrey; Cor Caroli is in the original shot of course, but that's a cropped version and no stars more than 9 degrees north of the comet are visible. Cor Caroli was 12 degrees to the north last night.

Clear skies,
Finbarr.

Hi Finbarr, 

Congratulations on capturing this comet. I always like how you place an object in the foreground to add some perspective to the image. Also, thanks for the notification about it passing close to M3 tonight.

Clear skies, 

Darren. 

Thanks Darren. There is a chance to catch the conjunction with M3 on Gianluca Masi's page, if we're clouded out here -

www.virtualtelescope.eu/2021/12/01/comet...ervation-3-dec-2021/

Clear skies,
Finbarr.

Hi Finbarr,

Very many thanks for sharing that link - it's brilliant!

I missed the live stream - a little too late for me : (.

Still planning to to view the comet over the coming weeks.

Clear skies,

Darren.