P/1997 V1 (Larsen)

This comet was discovered by Spacewatch observer Jeff Larsen on the night of 1997 November 3 UT. This image is one of the 3 discovery images, taken on 1997 November 3 at 06:29 UT. The total integration time is just under 2.5 minutes. The comet is total magnitude 16.6 and has a nuclear magnitude of about 19.5. The faint tail was seen to extend 0.89 arcminutes in p.a. 258 degrees and is seen to extend to the right and slightly down. The coma is about 14 arcseconds across. This image is 9 arcminutes square with North at top and West to the right. (Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.)

This image is a result of co-adding the 9 images taken on the discovery night (1997 November 3 UT) between 05:27 UT and 09:02 UT giving a total integration time of about 22 minutes. Compare this image to the one above; this image shows much fainter details in both the coma and the tail. The multiple star images in a row are an artifact of co-adding the images after accounting for the comet's motion. This image is 7 arcminutes square with North at top and West to the right. (Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.)

Last update: January 31, 1998