246P/NEAT

Japanese version
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Updated on December 11, 2022

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* Profile

New periodic comet discovered in 2004.

The eccentricity is small as 0.29. The brightening and fading is slow along a 7.5 log r formula. Therefore, it is bright as 18 mag even around the aphelion, and it is observable all through the orbit.

Kazuo Kinoshita's calculation revealed that it approached to Jupiter in 2001 July, and the perihelion distance was reduced from 3.8 A.U down to 2.9 A.U. However, Kinoshita's calculation also revealed that it will approach to Jupiter in 2024 July again, and the perihelion distance will be increased again up to 3.5 A.U. The comet comes closer to the Sun in only three apparitions, 2005, 2013 and 2021, during recent 200 years.

Based on the current brightness, the comet must have been about 18 mag at the aphelion, and must have been bright as 16 mag at the perihelion before 2001. But actually, it was not discovered until 2004. It suggests that the comet became active by coming closer to the Sun.

The maximum brightness around the perihelion will fade down to 16 mag after 2024. But it may be much fainter if the current activity settles down.

* Returns and Appearances

!Discovered *Appeared -Not observed #Appeared before discovery +Not observed before discovery .Returns in the future
.
2029 Oct. 28
* 246P
2021 Feb. 22
* 246P/2010 V2
2013 Jan. 28
! 246P/2004 F3
2005 Jan. 4
+
1996 Jan. 2

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Orbital elements in the past and future are calculated by Kazuo Kinoshita (http://www9.ocn.ne.jp/~comet/pcmt/k04f3.htm).

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Copyright(C) Seiichi Yoshida (comet@aerith.net). All rights reserved.