C/2007 F1 (LONEOS) explained

C/2007 F1 (LONEOS)
Discovery Date:March 19, 2007
Epoch:June 7, 2007
(JD 2454258.5)
Aphelion:N/A
Perihelion:0.40237 AU
Semimajor:N/A
Eccentricity:1.00009[1]
1.000021 (epoch 2011+)[2]
Period:N/A
Inclination:116.08°
Last P:October 28, 2007
Next P:ejection
M1:10.8

C/2007 F1 (LONEOS) is a hyperbolic comet discovered on March 19, 2007 as part as the Lowell Observatory Near Earth Object Search (LONEOS). The comet reached perihelion, or closest approach to the sun on October 28, 2007.[1]

The comet reached 5th magnitude in October, making it visible in binoculars, lying near the western horizon at the end of the twilight,[3] before starting slowly to dim on its way out of the solar system. It continued to move south in the sky and became visible to southern hemisphere comet chasers in mid November.

The comet was also observed from both the STEREO spacecraft, first by STEREO-B on October 22 and then by STEREO-A for several days starting from October 28[4] as the comet had just passed perihelion and was receding from the Sun.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2007-10-28 last obs . JPL Small-Body Database Browser: C/2007 F1 (LONEOS) . . 2011-03-13.
  2. Web site: Horizons output . Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2007 F1 (LONEOS) . 2011-03-12. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  3. Web site: MacRobert . Alan . SKY AT A GLANCE OCTOBER 19TH, 2007 . skyandtelescope.org . 19 October 2007 . 12 December 2023.
  4. Web site: Comets in SECCHI Images . Rainer . Kracht .