12P/Pons-Brooks 2023-Oct-05-10 Eliot Herman

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks outburst October 5-10 2023

It appears to once again be developing the same interesting coma as the last major outburst. Both images iTelescope T11 9 x 60 sec in L

There appears to be an initial eruptive jet (horizontal tail in image) with the outburst seen on October 5, 2023 much like the eruptive jets observed by probes such as Rosetta in high-detail. By October 7 the jet is absent, but the coma once again as in July appears to be developing the "Pac-Man" or Horseshoe morphology that is likely to fully develop in the coming days. By October 9th the coma appears more transparent with central body's glow much more apparent. The coma is still enlarging while becoming more diffuse and transparent. On October 10th galaxy UGC10845 was in close conjunction (shown arrowhead) it is mag 14.3 quite close to the reports for 12P. It too is a diffuse object with a central core- its core appears quite similar in brightness but the diffuse light from the spiral arms is much smaller and difficult to compare.

See Bob King article: skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/comet-12p-pons-brooks-... for details on comet and outbursts.

See Nick James article from British Astronomy Assoc for summery of prior (and apparently similar) outburst in July 2023; britastro.org/section_news_item/outburst-of-comet-12p-pon...

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