P/2019 M2 (ATLAS)

Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 22 June 2019 Perihelion distance (q): 1.1 Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.0 Period (years): 5.3 Eccentricity (e): 0.65 Inclination (i): 12.3 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve An 18th magnitude object was discovered in images taken with the 0.5m Schmidt at Mauna Loa on 29 June 2019 by the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team. After posting on the PCCP it was found to show cometary features by other observers. It had been posted on the PCCP as A10evjB. The comet a near earth object and passed 0.21 au from us on 16 June 2019. Dan Green discusses the possible identity with 1884 O1 (D/Barnard). With further astrometry available S Nakano has integrated the orbit backwards in time, noting several close approaches to Jupiter. The likely perihelion dates however do not coincide with that of D/Barnard. Further astrometry may allow confirmation of the identity, or there may be two comets that are related to each other. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 08-Aug-19 18.46 0.03 18.0 0.2 28-Aug-19 18.56 0.06 18.4 0.2 04-Sep-19 18.65 0.03 18.6 0.2 24-Sep-19 19.11 0.09 19.0 0.2 30-Sep-19 19.56 0.07 19.5 0.2 28-Oct-19 20.68 0.04 20.4 0.2