231P/LINEAR-NEAT (0231P)

TRY AGAIN 2026

Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 5 August 2027 Perihelion distance (q): 3.1 Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.0 Period (years): 8.2 Eccentricity (e): 0.24 Inclination (i): 12.3 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Atlas 231P/LINEAR-NEAT = 2003 CP7 = 2009 X1 An 18th magnitude comet discovered on NEAT Palomar images obtained on 10 March 2003 was reported by K. Lawrence as showing a nuclear condensation of diameter about 7" and a tail about 8" long toward the west. The cometary nature was confirmed by J. Young at Table Mountain on 12 March. The Minor Planet Center linked the object to an apparently asteroidal LINEAR object of mag 19.0 seen on 1 and 4 February that was designated 2003 CP_7. The comet was recovered by Gary Hug with his 0.56-m reflector at Sandlot Observatory on 11 December 2009. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 07-May-19 18.87 0.05 18.6 0.2 27-May-19 19.25 0.13 18.7 0.2 29-Mar-20 20.46 0.13 20.1 0.2