247P/LINEAR (0247P)
TRY AGAIN 2026
Type: Periodic
Perihelion date: 25 October 2026
Perihelion distance (q): 1.5
Aphelion distance (Q) : 6.4
Period (years): 7.9
Eccentricity (e): 0.63
Inclination (i): 13.7
JPL orbit diagram
COBS lightcurve
Atlas
The comet was discovered by LINEAR on 5 November 2002 as an asteroid, of 19th
magnitude. Brian Marsden noted that it is not clear if the object is in fact a comet.
The orbit is typical of a Jupiter family comet and it can pass within 0.4 AU of the
planet. It was refound by LINEAR on 15 November 2010 at 18th magnitude. It was
finally confirmed as a comet in December 2010 when observations at the Haute
Province Observatory as part of the T2 prject showed that it had a tail.
Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude)
Date
10x10 mag
Error
VEmag
Coma '
13-Oct-18
20.27
0.13
20.1
0.3
03-Dec-18
18.71
0.12
18.5
0.2
11-Dec-18
18.22
0.06
17.9
0.2
18-Dec-18
18.11
0.08
17.8
0.2
01-Jan-19
17.98
0.07
17.7
0.2
08-Jan-19
18.20
0.05
17.7
0.2