Solar System Images
Comet 12P/Pons Brooks
12P/Pons–Brooks is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 71 years. It was discovered at Marseilles Observatory in July 1812 by Jean-Louis Pons, and then later recovered in 1883 by William Robert Brooks.
The comet nucleus is estimated to be around 30 km in diameter.
The image is composed from 41*1 minute exposures taken on the 6th March 2024. Camera - QHY8L; Scope - WO Star71 F4.9
12P/Pons–Brooks is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 71 years. It was discovered at Marseilles Observatory in July 1812 by Jean-Louis Pons, and then later recovered in 1883 by William Robert Brooks.
The comet nucleus is estimated to be around 30 km in diameter.
The image is composed from 41*1 minute exposures taken on the 6th March 2024. Camera - QHY8L; Scope - WO Star71 F4.9
Comet C/2023 H2 (Lemmon)
C/2023 H2 (Lemmon), is a recently discovered comet with an orbital period of 3,870 years. At its closest approach to the earth it came within about 18 million miles.
The image is composed from 40*1 minute exposures taken on the 8th November 2023. Camera - QHY8L; Scope - WO Star71 F4.9
C/2023 H2 (Lemmon), is a recently discovered comet with an orbital period of 3,870 years. At its closest approach to the earth it came within about 18 million miles.
The image is composed from 40*1 minute exposures taken on the 8th November 2023. Camera - QHY8L; Scope - WO Star71 F4.9
Comet 46P/Wirtanen
Comet 46P/Wirtanen is a small short-period comet with a current orbital period of 5.4 years.
Camera - QHY8L; Scope - WO Star71 F4.9. 79*1min, 9th December 2018.
Comet 46P/Wirtanen is a small short-period comet with a current orbital period of 5.4 years.
Camera - QHY8L; Scope - WO Star71 F4.9. 79*1min, 9th December 2018.
Asteroid 2004 BL86
2004 BL86
This image shows the trail of Near Earth Asteroid 2004 BL86 around the time that it was making it closest approach to Earth. The image, which is a 5 minute exposure, was taken on the 26th January 2015 at 23:35. Scope: AA8RC + CCDT67, Camera: QHY8L.
Asteroid 2004 BL86 was discovered on the 30th January 2004, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey in White Sands, New Mexico. It is approximately 1,100 feet across and has a moon which is approximately 230 feet across. The asteroid made its closest approach at a distance of about 745,000 miles, and was the closest that it will come to the Earth for at least 200 years. The next near approach to be made by an asteroid of this size will be in 2027 by 1999 AN10.
Asteroid 2004 BL86 was discovered on the 30th January 2004, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey in White Sands, New Mexico. It is approximately 1,100 feet across and has a moon which is approximately 230 feet across. The asteroid made its closest approach at a distance of about 745,000 miles, and was the closest that it will come to the Earth for at least 200 years. The next near approach to be made by an asteroid of this size will be in 2027 by 1999 AN10.
Comet 2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)
2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)
C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is a long-period comet discovered on 17 August 2014 by Terry Lovejoy. It had an inbound period of about 11,000 years but due to interaction with other objects in the solar system, its outbound period will be around 8,000 years. Its closest approach to earth was about 43.5 million miles on the 7th January 2015.
This image was composed from 31*2min exposures taken on the 16th January 2015. Guiding was performed on the comet nucleus. Camera:QHY8L Scope:IKI70ED
This image was composed from 31*2min exposures taken on the 16th January 2015. Guiding was performed on the comet nucleus. Camera:QHY8L Scope:IKI70ED