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Details:
On the morning of Oct 21 comet C/2020 M3 (ATLAS) passed by the intensely orange star ε Lep. Its distinctive color jumped out immediately on the camera's monitor as the go-to telescope swept past it to center on the comet. The bright naked-eye star Arcturus and it are both of spectral class K--red-orange giants--with epsilon being even redder.
There are several other orange or red stars in the field. Of particular note is the one midway between ε and the comet. T Lep is a Mira-type variable star that varies between 7th and 14th magnitude over the course of almost exactly 1 year (368.1 days). It's currently 11th magnitude and getting brighter.
Photo #1: Comet fixed, stars moving
Photo #2: Stars fixed, comet moving
Photo data:
Panasonic G9 on 5.5" 500mm FL Celestron Comet Chaser on iOptron GEM45G.
Exposure: f/3.6, 57 minutes, ISO 1600. North is upper right, west is clockwise.
Photographer's website:
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