C/1999 J6 (SOHO) explained

C/1999 J6 (SOHO)
Discoverer:SOHO
Mike Oates
Discovery Date:May 10, 1995
Epoch:2007-Jan-19
Observation Arc:10.95 Years
Obs:267
Aphelion:6.15 AU
Perihelion:0.049 AU
Semimajor:3.10 AU
Eccentricity:0.984
Period:5.46 years
Max Speed:200 km/s (2026)
Inclination:26.6
Tjup:1.923
Earth Moid:0.0099AU
Next P:2026-Jun-18?

C/1999 J6 (SOHO) is a small comet, notable for being among those that made a close approach to the Earth. It was first observed by the space-based Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on 10 May 1995. It is next expected to come to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) in June 2026 at 0.044abbr=unitNaNabbr=unit.

The most notable Earth approach was on June 12, 1999 when it passed between 357000km (222,000miles) to 3.3e6km from Earth. The uncertainty is a result of the large number of observations at roughly the same time as there were around 50 observations on April 19, 2010. The discovery was made on March 20, 2000, during a review of previously captured images.

It next came to perihelion in November 2004, when it was known as "C/2004 V9", and then on April 19, 2010 when it was known as "C/2010 H3". On August 15, 2015 it should have been 0.56 AU from Earth.