Comet P2012PF5 – Stringbean Comet

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Comet-P2012F5

Thanks to Joe Mize for the heads-up on this very cool “stringbean” comet!   Naturally, I had to chase this down before the Moon got any closer to the comet over the next few days as the comet is only mag. 18.6!  This 10-minute exposure started at 2:32AM EDT remotely from Boca after the Moon set.  The comet appears adjacent to 15.7 magn. spindle galaxy PGC1056801 in Leo. The tail extends about 7-8 arcmin. and the comet is moving very slowly. This comet was discovered March 22 at Mt. Lemmon, Arizona. It looks like an asteroid with a tail!