Fragmented Comet C/2018 F4 (PANSTARRS)

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Photographer:

Mike Olason

Location of Photo:

Tucson, Arizona

Date/Time of photo:

6 December 2020, 0236UT

Equipment:

11" SCT and STF-8300M CCD Camera

Description:

This Gif shows fragmented Comet C/2018 F4 (PANSTARRS). The comet fragmented into 2 large fragments sometime in the summer of 2020. In this Gif the fragments are magnitude 17.1 and 17.3 with the dimmer fragment 12" (0.0033 degrees) to the SSE (PA 162 degrees) of the brighter fragment. In this Gif the comet was 407 million miles from Earth. The comet was at perihelion last December 4, 2019 when it reached magnitude 14. The Gif is 10 images each 300 seconds long collected from 0236-0331UT with an 11" SCT f/6.4 and STF-8300M CCD Camera. The FOV is 15'x15' and 1.24"/pixel. Note the gif was reduced 60% to meet size requirements.