Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS

Facts about and images of Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS.

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Published: September 9, 2021 at 8:51 am

C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) is a non-periodic comet discovered in June 2011 that became visible to the naked eye as it approached perihelion in March 2013.

It was discovered using the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response SystemPan-STARRS telescope located near the summit of Haleakalā, on the island of Maui in Hawaii.

It originates from the Oort Cloud and its orbital period is millions of years. When C/2011 L4 reached perihelion in March 2013, its peak magnitude was around 1.

Below is a selection of images of the comet captured by BBC Sky at Night Magazine readers and astrophotographers.

For advice on astro imaging, read our beginner's guide to astrophotography or discover our pick of the best astrophotography cameras.

And don't forget to send us your images or share them with us via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Comet Panstarrs - 6th March 2013 by Grahame Kelaher, Rockingham, WA, Australia. Equipment: Canon 6D, 105mm lens.
Comet Panstarrs - 6th March 2013 by Grahame Kelaher, Rockingham, WA, Australia. Equipment: Canon 6D, 105mm lens.
Comet PanSTARRS by Alfredo Balreira, Porto, Portugal. Equipment: Canon 1000D, tripod
Comet PanSTARRS by Alfredo Balreira, Porto, Portugal. Equipment: Canon 1000D, tripod
Comète panSTARRS by Mohamed Laaifat, Caen, Normandy, France. Equipment: Nikon D60, SIGMA 70-300mm
Comète panSTARRS by Mohamed Laaifat, Caen, Normandy, France. Equipment: Nikon D60, SIGMA 70-300mm
Comet PanStarrs by Felisberto Soares, Porto, Portugal. Equipment: Canon EOS 500D, tripod, "vintage" Helios 135mm manual lens
Comet PanStarrs by Felisberto Soares, Porto, Portugal. Equipment: Canon eos 500D on a tripod with a 300mm telephoto lens.
Comet PanStarrs by Felisberto Soares, Porto, Portugal. Equipment: Canon eos 500D on a tripod with a 300mm telephoto lens.
Panstarrs sets over Devon Hills by Ken Funnell, Bishops Tawton, Devon. Equipment: Canon EOS350D, Tamron 28-300mm lens
Panstarrs sets over Devon Hills by Ken Funnell, Bishops Tawton, Devon. Equipment: Canon EOS350D, Tamron 28-300mm lens
Comet Panstarrs and Moon by Richard Sass, Cloudcroft NM, USA. Equipment: Nikon D-40, 200mm lens, tripod
Comet Panstarrs and Moon by Richard Sass, Cloudcroft NM, USA. Equipment: Nikon D-40, 200mm lens, tripod
The Andromeda Galaxy and Comet PanStarrs by Brian R Bugler, St. Agnes Head, Cornwall, UK. Equipment: Canon 5d mk.III, 70-200mm lens f2.8.
The Andromeda Galaxy and Comet PanStarrs by Brian R Bugler, St. Agnes Head, Cornwall, UK. Equipment: Canon 5d mk.III, 70-200mm lens f2.8.
Comet PanSTARRS by Jonathan Hall, Hexham, Northumberlad, UK. Equipment: Canon eos 550D, 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, tripod.
Comet PanSTARRS by Jonathan Hall, Hexham, Northumberlad, UK. Equipment: Canon eos 550D, 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, tripod.
C/2011 L4 Panstarrs by Graham Edridge, Stamford, Lincs, UK. Equipment: William Optics GT81 Apo, 10
C/2011 L4 Panstarrs by Graham Edridge, Stamford, Lincs, UK. Equipment: William Optics GT81 Apo, 10" Meade LX 200, Atik 383L , Baader LRGB 2" filters.
2011 L4 PanSTARRS Passing NGC 7822 by James Screech, Bedford, UK. Equipment: Canon 500D (modified), CLS clip filter, Evostar 80ED DS-Pro, EQ5 (EQMod), CdC, APT, AT ST80, QHY5, PHD autoguider
2011 L4 PanSTARRS Passing NGC 7822 by James Screech, Bedford, UK. Equipment: Canon 500D (modified), CLS clip filter, Evostar 80ED DS-Pro, EQ5 (EQMod), CdC, APT, AT ST80, QHY5, PHD autoguider
Comet Panstarrs and Andromeda Galaxy by Steve Macdonald, Bolton, Lancashire, UK. Equipment: Canon EOS 350D.
Comet Panstarrs and Andromeda Galaxy by Steve Macdonald, Bolton, Lancashire, UK. Equipment: Canon EOS 350D.
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