Comet 103P Hartley getting brighter.

[gm7pbb]

Took a few images the other night, 29 Sept 2010@ 22:41, 103P is there and getting brighter all the time. this was a quick single 142sec shot, not even set the drive up. Just before the Moon popped up.

1000D, 1600ISO, 300P (prime focus), Badaar coma, NEQ6pro.

[NickH]

Nice one...big old coma isn't it

[kev]

Whats the mag of this now?

[NickH]

Integrated mag on CCD in R band is about 9 ish according to data on Epoxi. Calsky putting it around 7.5 from mpc observations, but the coma is so diffuse, that visually it looks like something close to mag 10-12

[George]

Is that head on with the tail behind?

[bish]

Nice pic. Just wish the comet would brighten some more - maybe do a 17p Holmes.

[Abb]

I was reading in the Oct issue of Sky & Telescope last night that it's closest approach to Earth will be Oct 20th "and perhaps be at it's peak predicted brightness of magnitude 5". But it seems the moon may be a problem. "Moonless viewing times return around Nov 1st" the article further says.....