C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)

C/2014 Q2 as imaged 19 January 2015[1]
Discovery
Discovered by Terry Lovejoy
0.2-m Schmidt (Q80)[2]
Discovery date 17 August 2014
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch 18 January 2015[3]
Perihelion 1.29077 AU (q)[3]
Eccentricity 0.99811[3]
Orbital period ~11000 years inbound (Barycentric solution for epoch 1950)[4]
~8000 years outbound
(Barycentric solution for epoch 2050)[4]
Inclination 80.301°[3]
Last perihelion 30 January 2015[3]

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is a long-period comet discovered on 17 August 2014 by Terry Lovejoy using a 0.2-meter (8 in) Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope.[2] It was discovered at apparent magnitude 15 in the southern constellation of Puppis.[2] It is the fifth comet discovered by Terry Lovejoy. Its blue-green color is the result of cyanogen and diatomic carbon being burned off the comet as it passes through space.

By December 2014, the comet had brightened to roughly magnitude 7.4,[5] making it a small telescope and binoculars target. By mid-December, the comet was visible to the naked eye for experienced observers with dark skies and keen eyesight.[6] On 28−29 December 2014, the comet passed 1/3° from globular cluster Messier 79.[7] In January 2015, it brightened to roughly magnitude 4,[8] and became one of the brightest comets located high in a dark sky in years. On 7 January 2015, the comet passed 0.469 AU (70,200,000 km; 43,600,000 mi) from Earth.[9] It crossed the celestial equator on 9 January 2015 becoming better seen from the northern hemisphere.[10] The comet came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 30 January 2015 at a distance of 1.29 AU (193,000,000 km; 120,000,000 mi) from the Sun.[3]

Before entering the planetary region (epoch 1950), C/2014 Q2 had an orbital period of about 11000 years.[4] After leaving the planetary region (epoch 2050), it will have an orbital period of about 8000 years.[4]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Comet Lovejoy". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "MPEC 2014-Q10 : COMET C/2014 Q2 (LOVEJOY)". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-09-14. (CK14Q020)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "MPEC 2014-R69 : Observations and Orbits of Comets". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)". Retrieved 2015-01-05. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  5. ↑ Yoshida, Seiichi (2014-12-07). "Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2014 Dec. 6: South)". aerith.net. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  6. ↑ Alan MacRobert (2014-12-15). "Binocular Comet Lovejoy Heading Our Way". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
  7. ↑ Bob King (2014-12-08). "C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy – A Binocular Comet in Time for Christmas". Universe Today. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  8. ↑ Seiichi Yoshida (2014-09-14). "C/2014 Q2 ( Lovejoy )". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2013-09-14. (September 2014 archive)
  9. ↑ "JPL Close-Approach Data: C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)" (last observation: 2014-10-02; arc: 93 days). Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  10. ↑ "Elements and Ephemeris for C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-10-29. (CK14Q020)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy).