C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)

Type: Hyperbolic Perihelion date: 20 January 2026 Perihelion distance (q): 0.6 Aphelion distance (Q) : n/a Period (years): n/a Eccentricity (e): 1.00 Inclination (i): 75.2 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Atlas Kaspar Wierzchos discovered a comet of around 20th magnitude in images taken with the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey on 3 March 2024. Following posting on the PCCP as CA9MP42 the comet was found in images taken by the ZTF on 15 and 29 February. The comet may become a telescopic or faint binocular object for visual observers in the northern hemisphere in the autumn of 2025 as it heads south towards perihelion. At perihelion it could be visible in the SOHO C3 field if the spacecraft is still operational. Post perihelion it returns to northern skies, when it might be a binocular object in the evening sky, though fading rapidly. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 20-Oct-24 19.7 0.4