C/2020 X3 (SOHO)

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C/2020 X3 (SOHO)
(Eclipse Comet of 2020)
Discovery [1]
Discovered by SOHO
Worachate Boonplod
Discovery date13 December 2020
Designations
SOHO-4108, CK20X030
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 14 December 2020 (JD 2459198.44587)
Observation arc 22.9 hours
Number of
observations		104
Orbit type Kreutz sungrazer
Perihelion 0.005 AU
Eccentricity ~1.000
Max. orbital speed 200 km/s [2]
Inclination 143.94°
357.16°
Argument of
periapsis 		77.358°
Last perihelion 14 December 2020
Physical characteristics [3]
Mean diameter
0.015 km (0.0093 mi)
5.1
(2020 apparition)

C/2020 X3 (SOHO), also known as SOHO-4108, is the 3,534th Kreutz sungrazer comet discovered by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). [2] It is notable for appearing during the total solar eclipse of 14 December 2020. Due to its small size, only about a few meters across, it completely disintegrated upon perihelion only 22 hours after being discovered. [4]

Contents

See also

References

  1. 1 2 W. Boonplod; K. Battams; et al. (17 December 2020). "Comet C/2020 X3 (SOHO)". Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. 2020-Y19.
  2. 1 2 K. Brabaw (21 January 2021). "This tiny comet photobombed the total solar eclipse of 2020". Space.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  3. ↑ "SOHO Observatory Spots Newly-Discovered Sungrazer Comet". SciNews. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  4. ↑ M. Hatfield (19 December 2020). "Recently Discovered Comet Seen During 2020 Total Solar Eclipse". nasa.gov. NASA . Retrieved 18 September 2025.
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