C/2014 Q3 (Borisov)

For other comets discovered by Gennadiy Borisov, see Comet Borisov (disambiguation).

C/2014 Q3 (Borisov)
NEOWISE image of the comet on 27 November 2014
Discovery
Discovered byGennadiy Borisov
0.3 m f/1.5 astrograph (L51)[1]
Discovery date22 August 2014
Orbital characteristics
Epoch9 December 2014[2]
Aphelion55.111 au
Perihelion1.6474 au (q)[2]
Eccentricity0.94196[2]
Orbital period146 years (epoch 2050)[3]
Inclination89.949°[2]
Last perihelion19 November 2014[2]
Next perihelion~2160

C/2014 Q3 (Borisov) is a periodic comet discovered at apparent magnitude 17 on 22 August 2014 by amateur astronomer Gennadiy Borisov using a 0.3-meter (12 in) astrograph.[1] It is the third comet discovered by Borisov. The comet is best viewed from the northern hemisphere.

The comet was expected to reach about magnitude ~11 near perihelion (closest approach to the Sun), but brightened to around magnitude 10.[4] By 8 November 2014, the comet had a declination of +83 and was circumpolar from the northern hemisphere.[5] The comet came to perihelion on 19 November 2014 at a distance of 1.65 au from the Sun.[2]

Before entering the planetary region (epoch 1950), C/2014 Q3 had an orbital period of 148 years.[3] After leaving the planetary region (epoch 2050), it has an orbital period of 146 years.[3]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MPEC2014-Q38 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference MPEC2014-U124 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference horizons was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Yoshida was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference MPC-eph was invoked but never defined (see the help page).