C/2023 S2 (ATLAS)

DEPARTED

Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 15 October 2023 Perihelion distance (q): 1.1 Aphelion distance (Q) : 302.6 Period (years): 1,871 Eccentricity (e): 0.99 Inclination (i): 20.5 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 15th magnitude comet in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on 28 September 2023. The comet may have a steep light curve as it was reasonably placed for some time before discovery. The large diffuse coma points against an outburst. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 01-Dec-23 18.8 0.4