253P/PANSTARRS (0253P)

Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 20 October 2024 Perihelion distance (q): 2.0 Aphelion distance (Q) : 4.9 Period (years): 6.4 Eccentricity (e): 0.41 Inclination (i): 4.9 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Atlas 253P/PanSTARRS = 1998 RS22 = 2011 R2 Pan-STARRS discovered a 19th magnitude comet on 4 September 1998. Subsequently S Nakano was able to identify the comet with LINEAR images of asteroid 1998 RS22 and then with 2005 observations by Spacewatch. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 08-Aug-24 19.1 0.4 30-Aug-24 18.3 0.4 06-Sep-24 18.0 0.4 13-Sep-24 17.9 0.4 24-Sep-24 16.3 1.1 02-Oct-24 17.4 0.4 23-Oct-24 17.6 0.4 30-Oct-24 17.8 0.4 05-Nov-24 17.8 0.4 19-Nov-24 18.2 0.4 26-Nov-24 18.4 0.4 03-Dec-24 18.6 0.4 18-Dec-24 18.8 0.4 29-Dec-24 19.0 0.4