227P/Catalina-LINEAR (0227P)
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Type: Periodic
Perihelion date: 7 March 2024
Perihelion distance (q): 1.6
Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.3
Period (years): 6.4
Eccentricity (e): 0.53
Inclination (i): 7.4
JPL orbit diagram
COBS lightcurve
227P/Catalina-LINEAR = 2004 EW38 = 2009 S4
An apparently asteroidal object reported independently by the Catalina and LINEAR
surveys was found to be cometary, based on observations from two observatories on
14 April 2004. Read and Larsen, using the 0.9-m f/3 Spacewatch reflector at Kitt
Peak, reported a tail 100" long in p.a. 300 deg, extending asymmetrically from the
south part of the nuclear condensation. Exposures by Hergenrother with the 1.2-m
reflector at Mt. Hopkins show a very condensed 9" coma and a narrow tail 210" long
in p.a. 295 deg.
Jim Scotti recovered the comet using the 1.8-m Spacewatch telescope at Kitt Peak
on 21 September 2009, noting a stellar appearance.
Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude)
Date
10x10 mag
Error
VEmag
Coma '
17-Dec-23
18.4
0.4
10-Jan-24
16.8
0.4
19-Jan-24
16.5
0.4
31-Jan-24
15.9
0.4
07-Feb-24
15.7
0.4
05-Mar-24
15.8
0.4
04-Apr-24
16.3
0.4
06-May-24
17.0
0.4
23-May-24
17.4
0.4
02-Jun-24
17.7
0.4
02-Jul-24
18.8
0.4