The Underappreciated Visitor

Last December, there was quite a hype in the nightscaper community about the "Christmas Comet" 46P Wirtanen.

 

Almost exactly two month later, on 13. February, the comet C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto), passed earth at a distance of 28 million miles. While its closest approach was about 4 times farther from earth than its "hyped" cousin 46P Wirtanen, its visual brightness was very similar.

 

Unfortunately, only a few dedicated astrophotographers seem to have cared. This is especially sad, because Iwamoto is fading quickly now and will not return for a very long time. Humans might be able to see it again in the year 3390, while the short period comet 46P Wirtanen will be back in 2024.

 

I had the chance to capture Iwamoto during the night of its closest approach. The image was taken on Mount Tschuggen in my favorite ski resort Arosa, Switzerland.

 

Iwamoto shares the same field of view with the famous Beehieve Cluster (M44) and M67, another open cluster, shining through some red airglow on the horizon. For pixel peepers, there is also a galaxy visible: NGC 2903 is a barred spiral galaxy at a distance of 30 million light-years.

 

EXIF

Canon EOS 6D astro modified

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L ll @ 70mm

iOptron SkyTracker Pro

Sky:

Stack of 6 x 60s @ISO1600, tracked

Foreground:

Stack of 3 x 60 @ ISO1600

Done