Comet hunters have been following it since David Cardenosa from Bootes Observatory in Spain (J05) reported some outbursts on the 22nd.
My Obs from this morning from D90, whilst I was tucked up nicely in bed asleep.....ah the joys of remote astronomy.
217P C2009 08 26.75348 03 49 59.73 -03 11 43.7 14.05R D90
217P C2009 08 26.75433 03 49 59.90 -03 11 45.5 13.78R D90
217P C2009 08 26.75519 03 50 00.16 -03 11 46.0 13.21R D90
217P C2009 08 26.75603 03 50 00.30 -03 11 46.0 13.70R D90
The comet looked a treat at about Mag 10.8 based on nearby catalog stars. It certainly makes a pretty picture passing those two deep sky galaxies.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5cA4J6wqU3lEEwO6VVxqRZz6Aqlw2oJdKx4u5urbId101VFw_l5fS3B5aOJTuIKd9xLHU56-8ytelsbrIKcKThp2jZmktjsnfKSEznDOezmAfsHrg34Y_f7XxV8rpjO7JUrg0Qc-zPk/s320/Comet217PLinear0826_1.jpg)
As you can see its still holding together reasonably well, although does still have a slightly "out of shape" coma.
From the very useful online application Photometrica you can see the 3D shape of the coma.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bSL_FsMYL42vKWDcY-WPkWvTBXbMzEEoglSysNbdlWmGKpZ7nUATIkhc3DYzeebYqA9TW9qX_PcZU0MFZgneCPlFSdL7R5cYvVU4UGPKrXY0eDrPIIJ5Tk8kUdiQC9jmhtAb8u0zdkM/s320/Comet217PLinear0826_3.jpg)
Closer inspection shows a similar profile to what our Spanish friends observed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5-O2DZee1W-Rs8XqScY3zBFeChgj8z-IF-yxxy4FnPcDW9UPF4mu2fCWRY7_SMZxZauOuBiEY2e7aS-aNz5eCsBOTMSR6zFtIjeq6Wam2hwKlpeCIZ36ya0GgqIo8l5xjdU1DtC8kBo/s320/Comet217PLinear0826.jpg)
I am still to download all the files, so maybe more later.
Musically reflecting on this, 217P is proving the time honored truth....."breaking up is hard to do."
UPDATE: I have downloaded the rest of the photos and done a 20 x 20 Sec stack.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W5C25QQO0fP1sTzIPSEablXcgOJVF_ZOQMgXcu-Pnq45j7qIUv6b5woQu6Qhny6EBQ1XY_WDbwwCpU6COb-M3fXCO2hun_C3AIo_xjeLovRSUJwT3k193dIq9ceqjtR1TnaS3DQCAkY/s320/Comet217Plinear.jpg)