Comet (C/2020 F3) NEOWISE
On behalf of NEOWISE (C51), Joseph R. Masiero reported on March 31, 2020 that this object, which was found on images of the NEOWISE Space Telescope (March 27 and 28, 2020), showed clear signs of cometary activity.
On the same day, we got the world's first images of this comet with coma and little tail from Earth with the 2m Faulkes Telescope South (E10) in Siding Springs/Australia, which we control from Münster/Germany. Confirmations from other international teams followed. The discovery and confirmations were accepted with the Minor Planet Electronic Circular MPEC 2020-G05.
First earth-based images:
2m Faulkes Telescope South (E10)
Siding Spring/Australia
22 x 40s
Filter R
March 31, 2020
09:03:48 - 09:30:20 UT
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) is a recurring comet with an near-parabolic orbit. The period can be 6000 years and more. It will come closest to the Sun on July 3, 2020. It is currently a comet of magnitude 8.5 and is expected to be visible to the naked eye in July.
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