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