C/2010 X1 (Elenin)
As feared, the comet dissolved during its nearest approach to the Sun in summer.
After some visual observations of
Juan José González Suárez and a
ccd detection of Giovanni Sostero, Ernesto Guido, and Nick Howes,
it was clear,
that the comet desintegrated during its Perihelion. Both visual and ccd
observers could confirm the remnant.
© 2011-11-08 by Bernhard Haeusler, Maidbronn, Germany frozen on comet half the size
120 x 30 sec. exposure, 2011-11-08 UT 03:56, 12" SCT f-6.3 + CCD ST10XME, published here on January, 9 2012
On this one hour exposure frozen on the comet the remnant of
comet Elenin could be the "dark" rounded structure in the center
of the negative processed image.
© 2011-11-08 by Bernhard Haeusler, Maidbronn, Germany frozen on comet half the size
40 x 30 sec. exposure, 2011-11-08 UT 03:56, 12" SCT f-6.3 + CCD ST10XME, taken after Moon Set before Twilight.
Similiar to images of collegues the remnant of comet Elenin is
still visible. On this comet guided combination of 40 frames,
the structure of the remaining dust and debris is rounded with a size of about 5
arcmin. (compare with
Jean-François Soulier's
images)
The red cross marks the theoretical position of the
false nucleus computed from MPC data.
The Sun is positioned east, a possible expected tail-like structure, affected by the
Solar Wind, is not seen.
The north part of the remnant possibly shows an arc-like edge, marked here with the red pencil.
© 2011-11-08 by Bernhard Haeusler, Maidbronn, Germany frozen on stars
40 x 30 sec. exposure, 2011-11-08 UT 03:56, 12" SCT f-6.3 + CCD ST10XME
This image is not guided on the comet. The yellow line
represents the route of the false nucleus during the exposure.
So we see only a weak and
elongated hint of a structure with less meaningfullness.