323P/SOHO (0323P)

Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 14 March 2025 Perihelion distance (q): 0.0 Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.1 Period (years): 4.2 Eccentricity (e): 0.98 Inclination (i): 5.3 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Atlas 323P/SOHO = 1999 X3 = 2004 E2 = 2008 K10 = 2012 Q2 The comet was discovered in C2 images by Rainer Kracht on 31 May 2008 . On the basis of an identification by Rainer Kracht, Brian Marsden has computed a linked orbit with 2004 E2 and 1999 X3, which had a period of 4.2 years and a low inclination. The object passed 0.058 au from the earth on 13 January 2000, 0.032 au from Mars on 19 May 2004 and 1.17 au from Jupiter on 1 February 2003. The comet was again observed from SOHO in 2012, eventually being designated 2012 Q2 in May 2015 and subsequently numbered as 323P/SOHO. In 2024 observations made with the HST in 2021 of two fragments were reported. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma '