On May 7, 2006 the brightest fragment (fragment C) of comet 73P Schuwassmann-Wachmann passed very close to M57 the Ring Nebula in Lyra.

It was no surprise that at 10:45 PM the skies were partly cloudy and with M57 relatively low in the sky  I knew it was going to be a challenge.  I pointed the 12" at it and started taking 60 second images as soon as the comet broke through the cloud layer.  The resulting movie is made up of 45 60-second images.  As M57 and 73P rose above the cloud layer the images become clearer.

It was great to be able to image this frequent interloper in what it could be its last apparition.

Earth Distance: 0.1 AU
Sun Distance: 1.0 AU
Elongation: 104°
Tail Position Angle: 238°
Tail Forshortening: 5%
Actual Coma Diameter: 16000 km