362P/Spacewatch (0362P)

Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 20 July 2024 Perihelion distance (q): 2.9 Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.1 Period (years): 7.9 Eccentricity (e): 0.28 Inclination (i): 15.6 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve 362P/Spacewatch = (457175) = 2008 GO98 This Outer Main-belt (Hilda group) asteroid was discovered by Spacewatch on 8 April 2008 at Kitt Peak. On 3 July 2017, Gareth Williams reported on MPEC 2017-N50 : "G. J. Leonard, using the MLS 1.5-m reflector, reported a comet candidate, described as having a coma of 7"-8" diameter and a broad ~15"-long tail in P.A. ~260 deg. This object was linked by MPC automated routines with the numbered Hilda minor planet (457175). Follow-up observations by D. C. Fuls with the MLS 1.0-m reflector confirm the cometary nature: very bright coma at least 8" diameter, with a very broad 12"- long tail in P.A. 265 deg. Additional follow-up observation by Leonard show as 10" coma and a broad, diffuse 15"-long tail in P.A. ~260 deg. The comet was perturbed from a Centaur type orbit by a close (0.05 au) encounter with Jupiter in 1710. The orbit was further perturbed in September 2011, and the first perihelion since then was in 2016. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 20-Feb-23 20.3 0.4 07-Jun-24 17.3 0.4 28-Jun-24 17.6 0.4 04-Jul-24 17.7 0.4 31-Aug-24 17.7 0.4