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Photographer:

Mike Olason

Location of Photo:

Tucson, Arizona

Date/Time of photo:

9 May 2021, 0420 UT

Equipment:

11" SCT and STF-8300M CCD Camera

Description:

In these images Comet 117P/Helin-Roman-Alu was magnitude 15.4, 255 million miles from Earth and had a nice 0.036 degree long tail at a position angle of 294 degrees from the coma. Comet 117P will be at perihelion in it's 8.26 year orbit in July 2022 when it will be 281 million miles from the Sun. The comet will make it's close approach to Earth in July 2022 at 189 million miles when it may brighten to magnitude 13.