C/2020 V2 (ZTF)

DEPARTED

Type: Hyperbolic Perihelion date: 8 May 2023 Perihelion distance (q): 2.2 Aphelion distance (Q) : n/a Period (years): n/a Eccentricity (e): 1.00 Inclination (i): 131.6 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve The Zwicky Transient Facility reported observations made on 2 November 2020 with the 1.2m Oschin Schmidt, which showed a 19th magnitude object. This was placed on the PCCP as ZTF0G6I and subsequently found to show cometary features by astrometrists. Pre-discovery images from the Mt Lemmon Survey were found from April, May and June. It is not clear why it was named ZTF rather than Palomar as has been the case with previous ZTF discoveries, though it may be linked to the fact that the Zwicky Transient Facility, which saw first light in 2017 is a follow on from the Palomar Transient Factory and it is a belated recognition of the fact. Alternatively the logic might be that automatic discoveries are to be called ZTF, whilst those made by observers will be named Palomar, though again this breaks previous logic where discoveries have been named after the observer. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 13-Jan-21 17.2 0.4 16-Jan-21 17.3 0.4 07-Feb-21 17.82 0.09 17.4 0.4 14-Feb-21 17.1 0.4 05-Mar-21 16.3 0.4 21-Mar-21 16.2 0.4 02-Apr-21 17.28 0.02 16.7 0.4 10-Apr-21 16.9 0.4 16-Apr-21 16.4 0.4 05-May-21 16.3 0.4 29-May-21 16.9 0.4 08-Mar-22 14.83 0.01 14.3 0.6 30-Mar-22 14.68 0.02 13.9 0.8 07-Apr-22 14.4 0.4 23-Apr-22 13.7 0.8 25-Apr-22 13.9 0.8 02-May-22 13.2 0.9 16-May-22 14.1 0.6 23-May-22 13.3 0.8 09-Jun-22 14.3 0.4 12-Oct-22 11.1 1.1 22-Oct-22 13.40 0.01 11.8 1.5 30-Oct-22 13.31 0.01 11.6 2.3 25-Nov-22 12.90 0.04 10.6 3.8 09-Sep-23 9.9 7.5 16-Sep-23 10.1 7.1