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C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)

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C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)
The comet on 24 July 2023
Discovery[1]
Discovered byATLAS
Discovery date1 March 2023
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch25 May 2023
Observation arc214 days
Earliest precovery date25 December 2022
Aphelion37.660 AU
Perihelion1.027 AU
Semi-major axis19.343 AU
Eccentricity0.947
Orbital period85.07 years
Inclination38.313°
164.57°
Argument of
periapsis		105.89°
Last perihelion1 July 2023
Earth MOID0.365 AU
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		16.1
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)		18.3

C/2023 E1 (ATLAS) is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 85 years. It fits the classical definition of a Halley-type comet with an orbital period of between 20 and 200 years. The comet was discovered on 1 March 2023 by ATLAS South Africa. Upon discovery, the comet had an apparent magnitude of about 19 and had a very condensed coma. The comet was subsequently precovered in images obtained by other observatories back on 25 December 2022.[1][3]

The comet brightened in late June to a magnitude of 10, and became visible in small telescopes and binoculars. At that time it was located high in the northern skies, in the constellation of Little Dipper. It passed its perihelion on 1 July and reached an apparent magnitude between 8 and 9.[4][5] The comet had a greenish coma and a faint narrow ion tail.[6] On July 8 it passed 9 degrees from the north celestial pole. The closest approach to Earth was on 18 August, at a distance of 0.375 AU.[7]

The comet seems to be in a 2:1 orbital resonance with Neptune, with the comet completing two orbits for every orbit Neptune does.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "MPEC 2023-E59 : COMET C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Small-Body Database Lookup:C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. ^ Green, Daniel. "Electronic Telegram No. 5233: COMET C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)". Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ^ Tingley, Brett (29 June 2023). "How to see comet E1 ATLAS high in the night sky in July near the Little Dipper". Space.com. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Comet C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)". COBS - Comet OBServation database. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  6. ^ "APOD: 2023 July 14 - Comet C/2023 E1 ATLAS near Perihelion". apod.nasa.gov. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b Dickinson, David (27 June 2023). "Follow Comet E1 Atlas Through the July Sky". Universe Today. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
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