C/2020 S3 (Erasmus) 2020-Nov-19 Michael Rosolina

I got a look at Comet Erasmus on the morning of the 19th. I got out about 4:30 local time but had to wait for it to come up behind the trees on the ridge to my SE--I could see the main stars of Corvus as they appeared but the comet was still out of sight. While I waited I noticed a shaft of light extending up from the horizon. It reminded me of the Milky Way coming up but then I thought--the MW doesn't come up there. It was the zodiacal light--as bright as I've ever seen it.

I saw a couple of late Leonids too as I fingered my chemical hand warmer and moved around a bit to ward off the chill--it was 27F/-3C and I'm not acclimated to those temperatures yet. Venus was flickering behind the trees and at times was positively blinding.

Just at the beginning of astronomical twilight Erasmus appeared above the trees. I had about 30 minutes to view it before the sky glow washed it out. It is green and a fast mover. I could not see a tail but with the SWAN filter it was elongated to the south and ragged looking. The core was brighter, too. I could not detect it with the 12x36 IS binoculars but the zodiacal light and glow from the rising sun were factors.

I like this comet too, but it's going to get harder for me to see as it heads east.