60P/Tsuchinshan (0060P)
Type: Periodic
Perihelion date: 20 July 2025
Perihelion distance (q): 1.6
Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.4
Period (years): 6.6
Eccentricity (e): 0.53
Inclination (i): 3.6
JPL orbit diagram
COBS lightcurve
Atlas
The comet was discovered at the Purple Mountain Observatory on 11 January 1965,
moving through Cancer. The magnitude was estimated as 15. An additional
observation was obtained on 13 January. The comet remained a relatively faint object
during its discovery apparition. It was followed until 31 May, at which time Elizabeth
Roemer determined the nuclear magnitude as 19.1.
The comet was again seen in 1978 and at all subsequent apparitions.
The 1998-1999 apparition was the best, with the comet remaining visible for over 6
months and becoming slightly brighter than magnitude 15.
Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude)
Date
10x10 mag
Error
VEmag
Coma '
24-Sep-18
17.43
0.15
17.1
0.2
12-Oct-18
16.39
0.03
16.0
0.2
19-Oct-18
16.14
0.07
14.7
0.4
18-Nov-18
15.19
0.02
14.3
0.6
04-Dec-18
14.91
0.01
13.5
0.7
11-Dec-18
14.86
0.02
13.8
0.5
18-Dec-18
14.79
0.01
13.6
0.7
01-Jan-19
14.72
0.03
13.1
0.6
13-Jan-19
14.71
0.03
13.2
0.6
30-Apr-19
17.13
0.02
14.2
0.6
07-May-19
17.45
0.03
14.3
0.6
01-Jun-19
18.31
0.06
15.3
0.6