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Community photo entitled  by Stephen O’Meara on 06/19/2022 at Maun, Botswana

On 06/19/2022 by Stephen O’Meara| Maun, Botswana

Comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS) is now passing by open cluster IC 4665 in Ophiuchus. The comet is barely visible now in handheld binoculars, I estimated its magnitude at magnitude 8.8 on June 19 and magnitude 8.6 on June 20 through a 3-inch telescope. The brightness of comets is unpredictable, however, as we know. The comet also has a short tail, but that is most apparent in images. Currently, it appears to be on a brightening trend. This shot is a composite of 2 nights, showing the comet’s movement near IC 4665, made with a 200-mm telephoto lens.