P/2023 M4 (ATLAS)

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Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 15 April 2022 Perihelion distance (q): 3.9 Aphelion distance (Q) : 7.0 Period (years): 12.7 Eccentricity (e): 0.28 Inclination (i): 7.6 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 17th magnitude object in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Sutherland, South Africa on 21 June 2023. The comet was much brighter than might be expected given the time from perihelion, so an outburst was suspected. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 19-Jul-23 17.3 0.4 16-Aug-23 16.6 0.4 24-Aug-23 16.9 0.4 05-Sep-23 17.0 0.4 12-Sep-23 17.2 0.4 19-Sep-23 17.5 0.4 02-Oct-23 17.4 0.4 12-Oct-23 17.5 0.4 01-Nov-23 17.6 0.4 10-Nov-23 18.1 0.4