APOD: 2022 June 30 - Comet C 2017 K2 (PanSTARRS)

Good afternoon, Rallypoint, and welcome to the June 30th edition of Astronomy PIcture of the Day (APOD): "Comet C 2017 K2 (PanSTARRS)." The Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (PanSTARRS) is located on the island of Maui (Hawai'i) at Haleakala Observatory. Astronomers first spotted Comet C 2017/K2 at PanSTARRS when it was between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus, and said (at the time) it was the farthest active inbound comet they’d yet seen. An 'active' comet has a characteristic coma and tail. Comet C 2017/K2 is now in the inner solar system, and its closest approach to Earth will be on July 14th. The comet will be closest to the sun on December 19th. The star cluster in the background is IC 4665, and the bright star is Beta Ophiuchi.

From the photographer' s notes, we learn that this image was captured on June 20, 2022 using an ASA H8 Hyperbolic f/3 Telescope and a QHY600M camera. Total exposure time was 18 minutes.