C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)

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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.

C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)
C/2018 N2 photographed from the Zwicky Transient Facility on 11 November 2019
Discovery[1]
Discovered byAll Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN)
Discovery siteCerro Tololo Observatory, Chile
Discovery date7 July 2018
Designations
CK18N020
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch26 February 2020 (JD 2458905.5)
Observation arc1,421 days (3.89 years)
Number of
observations
4653
Perihelion3.125 AU
Semi-major axis–17,021.93 AU
Eccentricity1.00018
Inclination77.530°
25.258°
Argument of
periapsis
24.397°
Last perihelion10 November 2019
TJupiter0.474
Earth MOID2.1943 AU
Jupiter MOID1.6361 AU
Physical characteristics
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
9.6
11.0
(2019 apparition)

Discovery and observation

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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 May 28, 2022.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "MPEC 2018-O01: COMET C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. Minor Planet Center. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "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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