493P/LONEOS (0493P)

Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 14 January 2026 Perihelion distance (q): 3.8 Aphelion distance (Q) : 10.5 Period (years): 19.2 Eccentricity (e): 0.47 Inclination (i): 24.1 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Atlas 93P/LONEOS = 2005 SB216 = 2024 Q2 A 19th magnitude asteroid discovered by LONEOS on 30 September 2005 was found to show a cometary appearance. Martin Masek recovered 2005 SB216 in images taken with the 0.25 m reflector at La Palma on 30 August 2024, with confirming images taken over the next few days. Subsequently the ZTF reported that they had imaged the comet on 2 August, with further images on many subsequent days. The comet will pass 0.6 au from Jupiter in February 2028. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 04-Feb-26 17.7 0.2 17-Feb-26 17.6 0.2