[BAA-ebulletin 00716] Comet 2012 K5 approaches clusters M36 and M37

[Rick]

[BAA-ebulletin 00716] Comet 2012 K5 approaches clusters M36 and M37
(c) 2012 British Astronomical Association    http://www.britastro.org/

From the Deep Sky Section.  Observing Opportunity

The star clusters M36 and M37 in Auriga are some of the finest open clusters visible in the winter sky.  Comet 2012 K5 LINEAR is currently paying them a visit and making a close approach (in line of sight terms only, of course) creating a splendid photo opportunity.  The comet is currently around mag 11 or brighter and the clusters are each around magnitude 6.

M36 is located at RA 5h 36.3min and Dec +34o 08' and M37 at RA 5h 52.3min and Dec +32o 33'.  The position of the comet for 00:00 UT on 2013 Jan 3/4 is RA 5h 35.6min and Dec +33deg.  Comet positions for other dates can be obtained from the Comet Section web site.

If the current period of cloudy and wet weather should clear over the next day or so and you observe this event, please send your observations to the Comet and Deep Sky Sections.

Stewart Moore
Deep Sky Section Director
2013 Jan 3