Telescopic comet Echeclus, Helsinki, Maunula

Normally a very dim 18..21 magnitude centaur, classified as a small planet and comet, the 174P / Echeclus has erupted a few times in recent years by 3 magnitudes and even 7 magnitudes. The last eruption and clarification occurred this year on August 28, 2016, when it brightened to a magnitude of 14.8. I decided to try to describe it when it was in the right direction from my yard, even though it was just above the worst light pollution in the center of Helsinki. And yes, that image became faintly visible when it was exposed long enough.

The echeclus is clearly dimmed in the image after the August eruption, and has moved for about half an arc of minutes during the 100-minute exposure. The tail or other traces of the discharge do not stand out in the picture.

A few arc minutes from the comet in the 10 o'clock direction is the galaxy of magnitude 16.5 (R) SDSS J011810.35 + 055423.7, the brightness of Echeclus is of the same order.

This description has been automatically translated from Finnish. Click here to see the original text.

5 7

Emma Bruus - 2.10.2016 at 19.43

Onnittelut todella vaikean kohteen tavoittamisesta!

Jorma Ryske - 2.10.2016 at 23.23

Kiitos Emma. Tässä havainnossa oltiin olosuhteiden ja laitteiden suorituskyvyn rajoilla, taas voidaan rajaa vähän siirtää ;-)

Rauno Päivinen - 4.10.2016 at 21.56

Hieno havainto hankalasta kohteesta!

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Telescopic comet Echeclus - 1.10.2016 at 23.33 Helsinki, Maunula Observation number 57492