229P/Gibbs (0229P)

Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 6 March 2025 Perihelion distance (q): 2.4 Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.4 Period (years): 7.8 Eccentricity (e): 0.38 Inclination (i): 26.1 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Alex Gibbs discovered a 19th magnitude comet on 20 September 2009, during the Catalina Sky Survey with the 0.68m Schmidt. The comet was at perihelion at 2.4 AU in early August and has a period of 7.8 years. Richard Miles used the 2.0-m "Faulkes Telescope North" at Haleakala to provide confirming astrometry and images. When an improved orbit became available, Rob Matson was able to identify images of the comet in NEAT imagery from 2001, and it was given the identifier 2001 Q10 for this return. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 17-Oct-17 18.78 0.03 16.9 0.3 31-Oct-17 18.63 0.16 18.3 0.3 14-Nov-17 18.80 0.04 18.4 0.3 13-Dec-17 18.51 0.04 17.6 0.3 26-Dec-17 18.67 0.06