C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)

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C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)
C2018N2 2019-11-11 image ZTF-sso-694-zr-size-500.0arcsec.png
C/2018 N2 photographed from the Zwicky Transient Facility on 11 November 2019
Discovery [1]
Discovered by All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN)
Discovery site Cerro Tololo Observatory, Chile
Discovery date7 July 2018
Designations
CK18N020
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 26 February 2020 (JD 2458905.5)
Observation arc 1,421 days (3.89 years)
Number of
observations		4653
Perihelion 3.125 AU
Semi-major axis –17,021.93 AU
Eccentricity 1.00018
Inclination 77.530°
25.258°
Argument of
periapsis 		24.397°
Last perihelion10 November 2019
TJupiter 0.474
Earth MOID 2.1943 AU
Jupiter MOID 1.6361 AU
Physical characteristics
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		9.6
11.0
(2019 apparition)

C/2018 N2 (ASASSN) is the second of two comets discovered by the All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae after C/2017 O1. It is a hyperbolic comet that reached perihelion in November 2019, and as a result, it may never return to the inner Solar System.

Contents

Discovery and observation

The comet was first spotted as a magnitude 16.4 object by the ASAS-SN survey from images taken at the Cerro Tololo Observatory's 14-cm "Cassius" telescope between 7–11 July 2018. [3] [4] It made its closest approach to Earth on 19 October 2019 at a distance of 205 million mi (330 million km) before reaching perihelion on 11 November 2019. [5] [6] Although it did not go closer than 3.12 AU from the Sun at perihelion, observations of the comet did show some significant signs of activity, including a dust tail forming around July 2019. [7] It was last observed as a magnitude 20+ object on 28 May 2022. [2]

References

  1. ↑ "MPEC 2018-O01: COMET C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. Minor Planet Center. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 "C/2018 N2 (ASASSN) – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory . Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Comet C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)". Al Sadeem Astronomy. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  4. ↑ S. Yoshida. "C/2018 N2 ( ASASSN )". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  5. ↑ G. van Buitenen. "C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)". astro.vanbuitenen.nl. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  6. ↑ M. Olason (24 February 2021). "Comet C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)". Sky & Telescope . Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  7. ↑ P. Chambó (12 July 2019). "Comet C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)". www.cometografia.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2024.
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