Comet C/2021 A9 (PANSTARRS)

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Photographer:

Mike Olason

Location of Photo:

Tucson, Arizona

Date/Time of photo:

6 May 2021, 0543 UT

Equipment:

11" SCT and STF-8300M CCD Camera

Description:

In these images Comet C/2021 A9 (PANSTARRS) was very faint at magnitude 20.6 and was 870 million miles from Earth. The comet won't be at perihelion in it's orbit until December 2023 when it will still be 718 million miles from the Sun and it will make it's close approach to Earth in January 2024 at 629 million miles, not very close. It will only brighten to magnitude 19 during this not so close approach to Earth.