C/2021 A1 (Leonard) was discovered on 3 January 2021 by G J Leonard. It has been swiftly making its way into the inner solar system since.

I was lucky to take this image in the predawn hours using a small telescope and astronomy camera on the 5th of December 2021. The comet will fly past earth during Dec 2021 at a speed of 254,412 kilometres per hour.

The comet is a ball of ice and rocks which is being heated as it approaches the sun. The tail is a trail of vapour left behind as ice on the comet melts. The eerie green glow in the coma is caused by a sublimed cloud of carbon and nitrogen heating up and emitting light.

A true once in a lifetime event, Leonard has been shown to have a hyperbolic orbit which means after this slingshot around the sun it will be launched from our solar system all together and be left to wander between the stars forever.

A lost interstellar wanderer.

A physical print will be made for the first collector should they wish it.