C/2003 E1 (NEAT)

This comet was discovered by the NEAT team on March 11th 2003 with the 1.2-m Schmidt at Mount Palomar. The comet was slightly brighter than magnitude 20 and had an 8” tail. The comet is in a Halley-type orbit with a period of 51.0 years and perihelion at 3.24AU, which will be reached on February 13th 2004.


The light curve

The light curve has been only poorly observed due to its faintness. The light curve shows an unusual level of dispersion. As the comet is already fairly close to perihelion it is not expected to brighten much more.

 

 

G

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CCD observation in a 10 arcsecond aperture by:

  • Ramón Naves & Montse Campàs - MPC 213
  • Josep Lluís Salto - MPC A02

 

 

 

Image: May 17th 2003

Image of C/2003 E1 (NEAT) taken with a 0.30-m f/6.5 Schmidt-Cassegrain + ST9-E CCD from close to Barcelona (Spain).

This low activity comet shows a very small coma barely distinguishable from a faint star.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ramón Naves & Montse Campàs
MPC 213, OBSERVATORIO MONTCABRER CABRILS (SPAIN)

 

 

 

 



Última actualización 31/05/2003
Por M.R.Kidger