C/2022 QE78 (ATLAS)

Type: Hyperbolic Perihelion date: 10 September 2025 Perihelion distance (q): 5.5 Aphelion distance (Q) : n/a Period (years): n/a Eccentricity (e): 1.00 Inclination (i): 36.5 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 19th magnitude object in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Mauna Loa on 27 August 2022, which was given an asteroidal designation. On 17 October, Sam Dean suggested that it might be a comet, as it was not detected in archival observations, suggesting that it was brightening faster than an asteroid would. Follow-up observations by Hirohisa Sato on 20 October showed a coma, which was confirmed by PanSTARRS observations dating back to 7 September. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 25-Sep-23 17.4 0.4 14-Oct-23 17.3 0.4 19-Oct-23 17.2 0.4 24-Oct-23 17.2 0.4 12-Nov-23 17.1 0.4 30-Dec-23 16.8 0.4 10-Jan-24 17.0 0.4 16-Jan-24 16.8 0.4 27-Jan-24 17.0 0.4 05-Feb-24 16.9 0.4 13-Feb-24 16.9 0.4 05-Mar-24 17.1 0.4