Comet Iwamoto (C/2018 Y1) is moving from Virgo up through the sickle of Leo over the next week or so. Currently reported at magnitude 7 and visible in binoculars in reasonable skies:

see https://www.skyandtelescope.com/observi ... brightens/

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Brian
52.3N 0.6W
Wellingborough UK.
254mm LX90 on Superwedge, WO ZS66SD, Helios 102mm f5 on EQ1, Hunter 11x80, Pentax 10x50
ASI120MC Toucam Pros 740k/840k/900nc mono, Pentax K110D
Ro-Ro roof shed

It'll be interesting to see if the comet can be imaged in wide-field with the Leo galaxies NGC 95/96/105.

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brian

It will be interesting to see if we can even just see it in small instruments being another of those very close and therefore large and low surface brightness beasts...it will also be interesting to see if we ever get a nice clear sky at the right time and before the Moon moves nearby! Still, here's hoping!! Regards maf

Looks like here in Sussex there may well be a clear spell in the early hours of tomorrow! Will give it a go. Checked it's position in advance and will be near to the group of faintish stars near tau Leonis. Tau is fl.84 and the others include fl.80, fl.82 & fl.83, so a reasonably easy area to starhop around. Will use the Acuter 15x65 spotting scope. Will report success or failure tomorrow! Hopefully success! Regards maf.

It's been an exceptionally cloudy winter this time Mike, with all of those Atlantic fronts piling in. It makes the winter seem much longer.

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brian