BAA Comet Section : Comets discovered in 2024
Updated 2024 December 21
2024 A1 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 19th magnitude comet
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on January 3.21. It was posted on the PCCP as A111kXD.
[MPEC 2024-B78, CBET 5333, 2024 January 21]. The comet is at perihelion at 3.9
au in 2025 June and is in a near perpendicular orbit.
2024 A2 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered an 18th magnitude object
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on January 15.34. It was posted on the PCCP as A112t8b.
Follow up observations showed it to be a comet.
[MPEC 2024-C180, CBET 5349, 2024 February 15]. The comet is at perihelion at 1.9
au in 2024 April and has a period of around 200 years.
2024 B1 (Lemmon)
An object of 21st magnitude was discovered on January 16.17 in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey. It was placed on the PCCP as CA698P2. PanSTARRS reported cometary activity
in pre-discovery images taken on 2023 December 15.39, with further pre-discovery images on 2023 October 13, 19, 23, November 20,
December 5, 9, 24 and 2024 January 3.
[MPEC 2024-C86, CBET 5344, 2024 February 8]. The comet is at perihelion at 1.6 au in 2024 September.
Vladimir Bezugly reported it as visible in SWAN images from September 28 to
October 6, suggesting that it is brighter than expected.
2024 B2 (Lemmon)
An object of 21st magnitude was discovered on January 31.26 in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey. It was placed on the PCCP as CA7X5V2. PanSTARRS reported cometary activity
in images taken on February 3, and their were pre-discovery images on 2023 May 14 (CFHT), December 29, 30, 31, 2024 January
23, 27 (PanSTARRS). The MPEC had to be re-issued as it originally gave no observations.
[MPEC 2024-C87, CBET 5345, 2024 February 8]. The comet is at perihelion at 4.1 au in 2023 October.
2024 C1 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
February 9.40. It was placed on the PCCP as P21RrwI. There were prediscovery images from PanSTARRS
on 2023 December 12, 2024 January 20, 21 and February 4. The comet was discovered after the one designated C2
[MPEC 2024-C177 CBET 5348, 2024 February 15] The comet is at perihelion at 4.4 au in 2024 August and has a
period of around 35 years.
2024 C2 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
February 1.42. It was placed on the PCCP as P21R3HJ. There were prediscovery images from PanSTARRS
on 2023 December 25, 2024 January 5, 6, 20, 21, 22 and 23. The comet was discovered before the one designated C1
[MPEC 2024-C178 CBET 5350, 2024 February 15] The comet is at perihelion at 9.0 au in 2025 March and has a
period of around 65 years.
2024 C3 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
February 9.47. It was placed on the PCCP as P21RtvR. There were prediscovery images from PanSTARRS
on 2023 March 18, 25 and December 17.
[MPEC 2024-D97 CBET 5353, 2024 February 21] The comet is at perihelion at 6.7 au in 2023 November and has a
period of around 40 years.
2024 C4 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 17th magnitude object
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Sutherland, South Africa on February 14.08 It was initially reported as asteroidal,
but quickly found to be a comet in follow up observations. It was posted on the PCCP as A1140BW.
[MPEC 2024-D98, CBET 5354, 2024 February 21]. The comet was at perihelion at 1.5
au in 2024 January.
Michael Mattiazzo estimated it at 14th magnitude on February 16.
2024 C5 (P/Lemmon-PANSTARRS)
Erwin Schwab recovered comet 2012 WA34 at 20th magnitude in images taken with the 1.0-m reflector at
the ESA Optical Ground Station at Tenerife on February 12.97. Sam Deen then found images taken on 2023 September 18 and 19
taken with the 4.0-m DECam at Cerro Tololo.
[MPEC 2024-D103, CBET 5356, 2024 February 22]. The comet was at perihelion at 3.1 au in 2023 July and has a period of 10.1 years.
2024 C6 (490P/ATLAS)
PanSTARRS 2 recovered 2019 M2 at 22nd magnitude in images taken on 2024 February 4.52, with additional images on February 15, March 1, 31
and April 4. The comet returns to perihelion at 1.07 au in September. The additional astrometry and linked orbit rule out a direct
connection with D/Barnard. The comet passed 0.7 au from Jupiter in 1990 January and will pass 0.8 au from the planet in 2037 May.
[MPEC 2024-Q25, CBET 5433, 2024 August 20]
2024 D1 (A/Lemmon)
An object of 22nd magnitude was discovered on February 16.31 in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey. It was placed on the PCCP as CA8FEE2. PanSTARRS reported pre-discovery images
taken on 2023 December 27, 28, 2024 January 2, 6 and 23. No cometary activity has been detected to date.
[MPEC 2024-E161, 2024 March 13]. The object is at perihelion at 6.7 au in 2027 December and is in a retrograde near parabolic orbit.
Currently over 10 au from the Sun, it may show activity as it nears perihelion.
2024 E1 (Wierzchos)
Kaspar Wierzchos discovered a comet of around 20th magnitude in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey on March 3.45. Following posting on the PCCP as CA9MP42 the comet was found in images taken by
the ZTF on February 15 and 29. [MPEC 2024-E102, CBET 5364, 2024 March 6/7]. The comet is at perihelion at 0.6 au in 2026 January. Unfortunately
this timing is not the best. The comet may become a telescopic or faint binocular object for visual observers in the northern hemisphere in the autumn
of 2025 as it heads south towards perihelion. At perihelion it could be visible in the SOHO C3 field if the spacecraft is still operational.
Post perihelion it returns to northern skies, when it might be a binocular object in the evening sky, though fading rapidly.
2024 E2 (Bok)
A 23rd magnitude object discovered at Kitt Peak with the 2.25 m 'Bok' reflector and placed on the PCCP as C0QQC45 was shown to have cometary features by astrometrists.
[MPEC 2024-F91, CBET 5377, 5378, 2024 March 27/28]. It initially caused
great excitement due to an incorrect linkage to an isolated tracklet, which suggested that it might have perihelion at 0.5 au.
The comet was at perihelion at 7.7 au in 2023 July according to the CBET
parabolic orbit. The MPEC gives a strongly hyperbolic orbit, for which there
seems little justification as it is based on only a 15 day arc.
2024 F1 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
March 18.41. It was placed on the PCCP as P11SDCC.
[MPEC 2024-G102, CBET 5379, 2024 April 9] The comet was at perihelion at 1.9 au in 2023 October and has a
period of 6.4 years. It is a Jupiter family comet and passed 0.6 au from the
planet in 2021 February.
2024 F2 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
March 21.61. It was placed on the PCCP as P11SLVZ.
[MPEC 2024-G103, CBET 5380, 2024 April 9] The comet is at perihelion at 4.0 au in 2024 August and has a
period of 31 years. It is a Jupiter family comet.
2024 FG9 (P/Nanshan-Hahn)
This object was noted as a possible comet by Alan Hale on account of its original orbit on April 16. Follow up by Sam
Deen suggested a possible coma and tail, but also refined the orbit to a short period one of around 6 years.
Maik Meyer notes that it has undergone a series of Jupiter encounters since 1999
which have progressively reduced the perihelion distance. Further observations
confirmed the presence of a coma, but it took the MPC until June 1 to revise the
designation. [MPEC 2024-L04, CBET 5401, 2024 June 1] The CBET gives more details of the confusion in MPC over this object.
The designation of 2024 FG9 was given on the basis of a set of observations by Mt Lemmon on March 21. However it had been
discovered at the Mt Nanshan station of Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory with a 1-m reflector on March 8.58 and 9 and properly
reported by them to the MPC. A linkage wasn't made until Robson Henrique dos Santos Hahn (Moeckmuehl, Germany) discovered an object
in images obtained remotely on April 10.87 and 12 with his 0.36-m f/2 Celestron 14 (+ Hyperstar) reflector located near Valdin, Ourenses, Spain.
He noted that it was interesting and it was then placed on the NEOCP, though not the PCCP. Sam Deen found ZTF observations from
2018 March, April and May. The comet passed 0.20 au from
Jupiter in 2021 April and will again pass 0.20 au from Jupiter in 2033 April. In the more distant future there are passes to 0.1 au.
A/2024 FP13 [PANSTARRS]
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
March 30.27. It was placed on the PCCP as P21SSPV and transferred to the NEOCP.
[MPEC 2024-H88, 2024 April 29] The object is in a retrograde orbit with perihelion at 3.3 au in 2024 August and has a
period of 150 years. It is classed as a Centaur by JPL.
2024 G1 (Wierzchos)
Kacper Wierzchos discovered a comet of around 20th magnitude in images taken with
the 2.25-m "Bok" reflector at Kitt Peak on April 7.48. It was posted on the PCCP as C0RKW75.
[MPEC 2024-H10, CBET 5381, 2024 April 17]. The comet is at perihelion at 3.9 au in 2024 October.
2024 G2 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 19th magnitude object
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on April 3.33 It was posted on the PCCP as A115K6D.
Follow up observations by Sam Deen and others showed it to be a comet.
[MPEC 2024-H20, CBET 5383, 2024 April 17]. The comet is at perihelion at 5.3
au in 2025 June.
The above PCCP designation still appears on the PCCP, with the discovery listing
there suggesting that 2024 G2 was A115KnX,
which was discovered on April 8.3. Possibly in this case my eyesight was wrong.
2024 G3 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 19th
magnitude object in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on
April 5.26 It was posted on the PCCP as A115IQO. Follow up observations showed
it to be a comet. [MPEC 2024-H22, CBET 5384, 2024 April 18]. The comet is at
perihelion at 0.1 au in 2025 January. It is a southern hemisphere object for the
entire apparition and is mostly at a poor elongation when within visual range.
The discovery magnitude suggested that it might be a fairly small object. It
came within visual range in October and these observations suggest that it is of
average size and brightening rapidly. It is currently at a poor elongation but
southern hemisphere observers will have a window to see it from late December. It could be visible as a bright object in
the SOHO field between January 9 and 16. If it survives through perihelion, there is a
further window from late January to early March. Unless it becomes very bright
UK observers will not get to see it. At the moment observations suggest that it
is unlikely to become a daylight object.
2024 G4 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
April 10.54. It was placed on the PCCP as P21TuJa. There were prediscovery images from the CFH Telescope on 2021 January 12,
PanSTARRS in 2022 February, March, April, 2023 March, April, 2024 March, April and Mt Lemmon in 2024 March.
[MPEC 2024-J123 CBET 5390, 2024 May 8/9] The comet is at perihelion at 4.9 au in 2026 March.
2024 G5 (Leonard)
Gregory Leonard discovered a comet of around 21st magnitude in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey on April 5.13. Following posting on the PCCP as CADZDR2 the comet was found in images taken by
PanSTARRS on 2023 December 15.59 and in 2024 January and February; ZTF in 2024 January and Mt Lemmon in 2024 February.
[MPEC 2024-J126, CBET 5391, 2024 May 8/10]. The comet is at perihelion at 3.0 au in 2024 September.
2024 G6 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 19th magnitude comet
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on April 10.35. It was posted on the PCCP as A115LYP.
[MPEC 2024-J134, CBET 5392, 2024 May 8/10]. The comet is at perihelion at 6.4
au in 2026 February.
2024 G7 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 19th magnitude object
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on April 3.35. It was posted on the PCCP as A115K6D
and found by other observers to be a comet.
[MPEC 2024-K41, CBET 5397, 2024 May 21]. The comet is at perihelion at 6.0
au in 2025 February.
2024 G8 [A/Lemmon]
An object of 21st magnitude was discovered on April 4.20 in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey. It was placed on the PCCP as CAD8PW2. Observations of the object were
made between April 3 and May 28. After several months without observations an MPEC was issued.
[MPEC 2024-Q05, 2024 August 16]. The comet was at perihelion at 1.2 au in 2024 June and is intrinsically very faint.
It was poorly placed around the time of perihelion.
A/2024 GT4 [ATLAS]
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 20th magnitude object
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Sutherland, South frica, on April 4.86. It was posted on the PCCP as A115JT0.
Observations back to 2010 were soon found. [MPEC 2024-G179, 2024 April 13]. The Trans Neptunian Object is at perihelion at 15.4
au in 2029 June and has a period of 190 years.
2024 H1 (486P/Leonard)
Erwin Schwab recovered comet 2018 L5 at 21st magnitude in images taken with the 1.0-m reflector at
the ESA Optical Ground Station at Tenerife on April 18.o7. He confirmed the recovery with images taken
by the Sutherland LCO 1-m Schmidt on April 21.
[MPEC 2024-K145, CBET 5400, 2024 May 31]. The comet is at perihelion at 2.3 au in 2025 April and has a period of 6.9 years.
It passed 0.4 au from Jupiter in 1978 July and 2014 September. There is a possible identification with 1937 BG
2024 J1 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
May 1.32. It was placed on the PCCP as P11TSLL. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS on March 19 and
April 1 and from Mt Lemmon on April 29.
[MPEC 2024-J133, CBET 5393, 2024 May 8/10] The comet was at perihelion at 2.6 au in 2023 Novemeber and has a
period of 7.4 years. The comet passed 0.5 au from Jupiter in 1974 June.
2024 J2 (Wierzchos)
Kacper Wierzchos discovered a comet of around 20th magnitude in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey on May 11.27. It was posted on the PCCP as CALRCC2.
There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS on March 18, 29, April 20, 26 and 27.
[MPEC 2024-K31, CBET 5394, 2024 May 19]. The comet is at perihelion at 1.8 au in 2025 March.
2024 J3 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered an 18th magnitude comet
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on April 6.26 It was posted on the PCCP as A116lVm.
[MPEC 2024-K118, CBET 5398, 2024 May 29]. The comet is at perihelion at 3.9 au in 2026 November.
2024 J4 (Lemmon)
An object of 20th magnitude was discovered on May 11.42 in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey. It was placed on the PCCP as CALRCK2. Follow up observations
at Kitt Peak showed cometary features.
[MPEC 2024-K128, CBET 5399, 2024 May 30]. The comet is at perihelion at 5.7 au in 2025 April.
2024 K1 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
May 30.42. It was placed on the PCCP as P11UPkV.
[MPEC 2024-L114, CBET 5403, 2024 June 11] The comet was at perihelion at 3.5 au in 2024 May and has a
period of around 18 years. It is a Jupiter family comet and may be in a 3:2 resonance witht the planet
according to Adrien Coffinet. The CBET notes no close approaches to any major
planet. There is an uncertainty of over two months in the orbital period.
2024 K2 (491P/Spacewatch-PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 recovered 2014 MG4 at 21st magnitude on May 30.33. Additional images were then found from April 17, 18 and
May 7. The comet reaches perihelion at 3.7 au in September. The comet passed 0.05 au from Jupiter in 1955 July, prior to
which it was at perihelion at 5.3 au in 1909 July and had a period of 45 years. [MPEC 2024-Q26, CBET 5431, 2024 August 20]
2024 L1 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
June 1.29. It was placed on the PCCP as P21UUrD, with cometary activity
subsequently detected by PanSTARRS. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS on May 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 18, 21, 29 and 31
and from Mt Lemmon on April 30 and May 14.
[MPEC 2024-L59, CBET 5402, 2024 June 6] The comet is at perihelion at 5.3 au in 2025 April and has a
period of about 40 years.
2024 L2 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 20th magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
June 13.53. It was placed on the PCCP as P11Vvm9. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS on June 1.
[MPEC 2024-M24, CBET 54xx, 2024 June 19] The MPEC
gives a long period eliptical orbit based on a short arc. Not surprisingly the
CBET gives a parabolic orbit and also notes additional DECam images in an
isolated tracklet file from 2023 July 15. These suggest that the comet is at
perihelion at 8.3 au in 2025 June.
2024 L3 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 22nd magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
June 7.48. It was placed on the PCCP as P21Vg64, with cometary activity
subsequently detected in follow-up observations. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS on May 29 and June 2.
[MPEC 2024-N105, CBET 5407, 2024 July 9] The comet was at perihelion at 6.9 au in 2023 November.
2024 L4 (P/Rankin)
David Rankin discovered a comet of 21st magnitude in images taken with the 1.5-m
reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey on June 15.43. It was posted on the PCCP as
CAPN0N2. [MPEC 2024-N106, CBET 5409, 2024 July 9]. The comet was at perihelion at 0.7 au in 2024 April and has
a period of 3.33 years. Sam Deen on the comets-ml notes that it is a very unusual object. It has the smallest
aphelion distance on record, is in a stable orbit and is intrinsically faint. He suggests that it may be
a recent rotational disintegration, or impacted object as he could not find it in ZTF images from
early May, which would explain the reported condensed coma. Peter Jenniskens
notes that there is a possible associated meteor shower, the delta1 Canis
Minorids.
2024 L5 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered an 18th magnitude object
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Sutherland, South Africa on June 14.94. It was initially reported as asteroidal,
but found to be a comet in follow up observations by Hirohisa Sato two days later. It was posted on the PCCP as A117uUD.
[MPEC 2024-O15, CBET 5418, 2024 July 20]. The comet is at perihelion at 3.4 au in 2025 March. It now has a highly hyperbolic
orbit following a passage 0.0049 au from Saturn in 2022 January. Prior to the close encounter, the comet
was at perihelion in 1883 July at 7.2 au and had a period of 145 years. The comet will pass 0.60 au from Jupiter in 2026 August.
The comet is one of two discussed in
Ejected from home.
2024 M1 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered an 18th magnitude object
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on June 29.42. It was initially reported as asteroidal,
but found to be a comet in follow up observations by Hirohisa Sato four days later. It was posted on the PCCP as A117LOC.
There were pre-discovery observations from Cerro Tololo-DECam on 2022 May 10 and 2023 June 6.
[MPEC 2024-O16, CBET 5419, 2024 July 20]. The comet is at perihelion at 1.7 au in 2024 November and has a period of around 160 years.
It could become visually observable to those with large telescopes in November and December.
2024 N1 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 22nd magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
July 1.46. It was placed on the PCCP as P21VZyv, with cometary activity
subsequently detected in follow-up observations. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS on June 6 and 15.
[MPEC 2024-N107, CBET 5410, 2024 July 9] The comet is at perihelion at 4.3 au in 2025 October.
It passed 0.5 au from Saturn in 2022 September.
2024 N2 (494P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 22nd magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
July 3.52. It was placed on the PCCP as P11W7zA. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS in 2023 June, 2024 April
and June. These quickly led to further pre-discovery images from 2017 September 2.42, then from
2016 June and 2017 July and finally from 2010 October 8.41.
[MPEC 2024-N123, CBET 5411, 2024 July 10] The comet was at perihelion at 2.4 au in 2024 May and has a period of 7.4 years.
2024 N3 (Sarneczky)
Krisztian Sarneczky discovered a 20th magnitude comet with the 0.6m Schmidt of the Piszkesteto station, Konkoly Observatory,
Hungary on July 8.90. It was placed on the PCCP as Sar2753 and confirmed by astrometrists. Possible pre-discovery observations
from Pleasant Green Observatory made by M Holbrook on 2023 December 15 were found by Peter Veres of the MPC in an "isolated tracklet file".
These were confirmed when PanSTARRS found the comet in observations made on 2023 October 9. [MPEC 2024-O11, CBET 5417, 2024 July 18]
The comet is at perihelion at 5.0 au in 2025 April and is currently in a hyperbolic orbit.
2024 N4 (Sarneczky)
Krisztian Sarneczky discovered a 19th magnitude objecct with the 0.6m Schmidt of the Piszkesteto station, Konkoly Observatory,
Hungary on July 14.96 and found it to be cometary in follow-up observations the
next night. It was placed on the PCCP as Sar2754 and confirmed by other astrometrists. [MPEC 2024-O41, CBET 5421, 2024 July 24]
The comet is at perihelion at 5.4 au in 2025 January. The MPEC gives a long period elliptical orbit, but this is based on a 6-day
arc, so probably isn't justified. As expected the CBET gives a parabolic orbit.
2024 N5 (487P/Siding Spring)
Martin Masek recovered 2012 US27 in images taken at the Pierre Auger Observatory with a 0.3m reflector on July 5.35. He took confirming
images the next night, with independent confirmation from Alan Hale on July 12 and Jack Drummond on July 16.
With an improved orbit Sam Deen was able to locate the comet in Sloan Digital
Sky Survey images taken with the 3.5m telescope at Apache Point on 2002
February 23.4. [MPEC 2024-O57, CBET 5422, 2024 July 26/27]. The comet is at perihelion at 1.8 au in 2024 October and has a period of 11.7 years.
2024 N6 (488P/NEAT-PANSTARRS)
An object discovered by PanSTARRS 2 on July 9.6 was placed on the PCCP as
P21WnsB. This was linked to a main belt asteroid discovered in NEAT images taken on 2002
August 29.22 at 19th magnitude and so removed from the PCCP. The discovery
object was then subsequently replaced on the PCCP and the linkage removed. MPEC
2024-P23 [2024 August 2] originally had observations of the object with a
designation of 2024 N6, but these were edited out. It is not a very transparent
process, but a formal MPEC [2024-P41] appeared on August 3. This, along with
CBET 5426 and 5427 [August 4] confirmed the linkage, with the latter giving
further background on the 2002 return. The comet was at perihelion in 2024 May
at 1.7 au and has a period of 7.2 years.
2024 O1 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
July 28.40. Confirming images were made the next night with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea.
It was placed on the PCCP as P11WwLu. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS in 2023 June and September.
Sam Deen found DECam images from 2023 July 16 and 28.
[MPEC 2024-P21, CBET 5424, 2024 August 1] The comet was at perihelion at 6.6 au in 2023 January.
2024 O2 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
July 28.54.
It was placed on the PCCP as P11WAbv. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS 2 on June 30.
[MPEC 2024-P90, CBET 5428, 2024 August 7] The comet was at perihelion at 3.7 au in 2024 April and has
a period of around 20 years.
2024 O3 (492P/LINEAR)
An object appearing on the PCCP as ZTS2139 and discovered on 2024 July 28.48 was linked to a return of 2010 WK
and removed from the PCCP on August 2. An MPEC was eventually issued on August 23. This gives the discovery
date by the ZTF as July 18.48 when the object was 20th magnitude. It also gives the alternate 2010 designation
of 2010 PB57
and the designation for the 2024 return
2024 OC2 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 22nd magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
July 28.30. [MPEC 2024-P14, 2024 August 1] It has perihelion at 0.6 au in 2024 October and a period of 4.3 years. It is a
PHA with an Earth MOID of 0.02 au.
Although there have been no close approaches to Jupiter, more distant ones
nudged the orbit in 2006 and 2017. In addition there have been approaches to
Venus, Earth and Mars. In 1973 it passed 0.04 au from the Earth and in 1978 it
passed 0.03 au from Mars.
An object was placed on the PCCP as DT24V02, discovered by David Tholen using the CFHT on November 6.6.
Although he had been attempting observations of 2024 OC2, he thought that this was a new comet as it was much
brighter than expected and showed a tail. It was quickly identified as 2024 OC2 and an updated MPEC issued, though this was
clearly an error as it should have been redesignated at this point.
[MPEC 2024-V132, 2024 November 11] The amateur community quickly pointed out on comets-ml that it was substantially
brighter than predicted (12th mag cf 23rd mag) and showed a tail when in the STEREO H1A field. Qicheng Zhang suggested
that the orbit was similar to that of 169P/NEAT, and could be part of the complex. He says that it was not obviously
visible in the STEREO field at its 2007
return, so may have become active recently. Unusually quickly the cometary nature was
recognised by the MPC and it was redesignated as a comet. [MPEC 2024-V174, CBET 5473, 2024 November 13]
A further comment on comets-ml by Sam Deen links the comet to 2003 T12 (P/SOHO)
and the Alpha Capricornid meteors, which possibly formed following a major
disintegration 4-5000 years ago. The CBET, which came out after the post, also attributes
the linkage to the Alpha Capricornids to John Greaves.
A/2024 PN7 [PANSTARRS]
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 20th magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
August 15.44. It was placed on the PCCP as P21Xld3 and then transferred to the NEOCP.
[MPEC 2024-Q29, 2024 August 21] The object is in a retrograde orbit with perihelion at 1.5 au in 2024 December; it has a
period of approximately 600 years with large error bars as it is based on a six day arc. It is classed as a TNO by JPL
In a post on comets-ml on November 2 Alan Hale suggested that it showed a coma
in images taken the day before.
2024 Q1 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
August 27.54. It was placed on the PCCP as P11XzyH. There were pre-discovery images from DECam on June 3 and PanSTARRS on
July 30 and August 12.
[MPEC 2024-Q87, CBET 5437, 2024 August 31] The comet was at perihelion at 1.6 au in 2024 June and has a
period of around 6.6 years.
2024 Q2 (493P/LONEOS)
Martin Masek recovered 2005 SB216 in images taken with the 0.25 m reflector at La Palma on
August 30.13, with confirming images taken over the next few days. Subsequently the ZTF reported that they had
imaged the comet on August 2, with further images on many subsequent days. [MPEC 2024-R78, CBET 5439, 2024 September 5]
The comet is at perihelion at 3.8 au in 2026 January and has a period of 19.2 years. It will pass 0.6 au from Jupiter in
2028 February.
2024 Q3 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
August 27.41. It was placed on the PCCP as P21XymA. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS on July 29.
[MPEC 2024-R181, CBET 5440, 2024 September 8] The comet is at perihelion at 2.1 au in 2025 March.
2024 Q4 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
August 31.61. It was placed on the PCCP as P21XFw3.
[MPEC 2024-S10, CBET 5447, 2024 September 17] The comet is at perihelion at 5.3 au in 2024 December
and has a long period.
A/2024 QX1 [PANSTARRS]
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
August 27.54. It was placed on the PCCP as P11XzyD. There were pre-discovery images on July 9 and August 5.
[MPEC 2024-Q93, 2024 August 31] The object is in a retrograde orbit with perihelion at 3.1 au in 2024 May; it has a
period of approximately 4000 years. It is classed as a TNO by JPL.
2024 R1 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
September 1.56. It was placed on the PCCP as P11XKzH. There were pre-discovery images from DECam on June 3 and July 10 and PanSTARRS on
August 27.
[MPEC 2024-R182, CBET 5441, 2024 September 8] The comet was at perihelion at 1.7 au in 2024 June and has a
period of around 6.4 years.
2024 R2 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
September 3.53. It was placed on the PCCP as P11XRtn. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS on
August 9.
[MPEC 2024-R202, CBET 5443, 2024 September 8/9] The comet is at perihelion at 2.3 au in 2024 October and has a
period of around 5.5 years.
2024 R3 (P/PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
September 8.49. It was placed on the PCCP as P21YiYd.
[MPEC 2024-S11, CBET 5448, 2024 September 17] The comet was at perihelion at 2.4
au in 2024 May and has a period of around 6 years.
2024 R4 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 21st magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
September 11.37. It was placed on the PCCP as P21YEvL. There were pre-discovery images back to July 3.
[MPEC 2024-S12, CBET 5450, 2024 September 17] The comet is at perihelion at 4.4 au in 2027 October.
2024 RU145 (495P/Christensen)
An object of 21st magnitude was discovered on September 8.30 in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey. Following further observations it was designated by
the MPC as an asteroid. Peter VanWylen and John Maikner pointed out that it could be linked
to 2016 A2. Following the linkage, observations were found by T Kobayashi in the MPC "isolated tracklet file" that
had been reported as P10hax1 (PanSTARRS) on 2014 December 27.23. [MPEC 2024-U34, CBET 5463, 2024 October 22/23]
There is probably some logic as to why it is not now named as Christensen-Lemmon. It is at perihelion at 3.5 au in 2025 October
and has a period of 10.4 years. It has a Jupiter MOID of 0.4 au, but there have been no recent close approaches.
2024 S1 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 15th magnitude comet
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Haleakala on September 27.62. It was posted on the PCCP as A11bP7I and was soon confirmed.
It quickly became clear that it was a sungrazing object, possibly a Kreutz comet. Speculation mounted that it would
become a bright object. However, small Kreutz comets often show unexpected fading, so as with all comets, there was no guarantee
that it would continue brightening rapidly. The orbital parameters were broadly similar to those of 1965 S1 (Ikeya-Seki), though it was
a smaller object. It was at perihelion on October 28.5 and came very close to the Sun. As
a comet is insignificant in
comparison to the Sun, there is unlikely to be any discernable effect even if it
had hit the Sun. The comet
was unlikely to have been discovered earlier as the solar elongation had been
less than 50 degrees for some time, an area not often covered by search
programmes. There is further information about the comet on
the BAA web site.
[TAEWC 3847, 2024 September 30, MPEC 2024-T22, CBET 5453, 2024 October 1]. Note that the final ephemeris position on the MPEC
as initially issued is/was totally wrong.
Zdenek Sekanina makes further comments in a paper on Arxiv.
There were however some signs that it was going to be a damp squib, as it was not
brightening smoothly and was undergoing sporadic outbursts. Some
professional observations suggested that the nucleus had already
disintegrated, though other observers said it was still condensed.
Irrespective of this, Qicheng Zhang pointed out that it could still become
quite bright in the SOHO field if the total mass of the comet was large enough,
as it is sublimation of the rocky material that is then occuring.
It faded substantially in SWAN images. It entered the SOHO C3 field at 12:42 on October 26 at about 7th magnitude,
showing a short tail. As it
progressed through the field the centre of light became elongated. There
were some reports of fragments, though Karl Battams suggested that these
were just part of the overall debris field. The comet was around 4th magnitude 02:30 on
October 28 in the C3 field. It entered the C2 field at 03:02 on October 28
and rapidly faded. It had completely sublimated by 08:00.
2024 S2 (P/Rankin)
David Rankin discovered a comet of around 18th magnitude in images taken with
his 0.28m f2/2 reflector at Saguaro Observatory, Tucson on September 30.42. The MPEC says that the discovery
was made on September 29 UT, but this may be a typographic error for local time. It was placed on the PCCP as DRA0734.
[MPEC 2024-T259, CBET 5457, 2024 October 12]. The comet was near perihelion at
2.1 au and has a period of around 12 years. This appears to be a discovery in an amateur capacity
and so eligible for an Edgar Wilson award.
2024 S3 (496P/Hill)
2010 A3 was accidently recovered by PanSTARRS on October 7.56 and placed on the PCCP as P120uko. Sam Deen quickly (October 8) spotted that this was
a recovery and not a new comet. We then waited to see whether it would get a designation for the return and whether it would be
numbered. Eventually (October 23) the MPC put out an MPEC, which suggested that the comet had been recovered on September 26.59.
This is condradicted by the CBET, which says that the comet was found by PanSTARRS in ITF images taken by Mt Lemmon on September 11.38,
with additional PanSTARRS images on September 14.57 and it was these that led to the discovery of the September 26.59 images. The CBET
suggests that it was the MPC that then identified it as a return of 2010 A3. [MPEC 2024-U42, CBET 5466, 2024 October 23]. The comet
is at perihelion at 1.6 au in 2025 March and has a period of 15.1 years. There will be an encounter with xx that will reduce the
period to 14.5 years and the perihelion distance to 1.5 au.
2024 T1 (P/Rankin)
David Rankin discovered a comet of around 20th magnitude in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey on October 2.49. Following posting
on the PCCP as CAY7ED2 the comet was found in images taken by
PanSTARRS on September 9.
[MPEC 2024-T181, CBET 5455, 2024 October 7/8]. The comet was near perihelion at
2.3 au and has a period of around 17 years. It probably passed 0.09 au from
Saturn in 2019 February, before which it had perihelion at 3.1 au.
2024 T2 (P/Rankin)
David Rankin discovered another comet of around 21st magnitude in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey on October 4.43. It was posted
on the PCCP as CAZAYW2.
[MPEC 2024-U16, CBET 5460, 2024 October 19]. The comet is at perihelion at
2.0 au in 2024 December and has a period of around 16 years. The MPEC hints at
some doubt as to its cometary nature, though several observers reported a tail
or elongation.
2024 T3 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 20th magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
October 10.54. It was placed on the PCCP as P220lm1. There were pre-discovery PanSTARRS images from
September 8 and 30.
[MPEC 2024-U17, CBET 5461, 2024 October 19] The comet is at perihelion at 3.7
au in 2025 March and has a long period orbit.
2024 T4 (497P/Spacewatch-PANSTARRS)
2011 UA134 was accidently recovered in astrometry from Mt Lemmon on 2024 October 5.31
at 21st magnitude, with subsequent astrometry from PanSTARRS on October 9 and 10.
[MPEC 2024-U43, CBET 5464, 2024 October 23] The comet is at perihelion at 2.1 au in 2025 February and
has a period of 13.3 years.
2024 T5 (ATLAS)
The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered a 19th magnitude comet
in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Sutherland, South Africa on October 2.93. It was posted on the PCCP as A11cek3.
[MPEC 2024-V97, CBET 5472, 2024 November 7]. The comet is at perihelion at 3.8
au in 2027 May.
2024 U1 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
October 30.55. Confirming images were made on November 3 with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea.
It was placed on the PCCP as P121pLi. There were pre-discovery images from PanSTARRS in 2023 November, December
and 2024 January, and a single image from October 24.56.
[MPEC 2024-V81, CBET 5471, 2024 November 5] The comet was at perihelion at 4.8 au in 2024 June.
2024 V1 (Borisov)
Gennady Borisov discovered a 19th magnitude comet in images taken with the MARGO 0.5-m f/1.9
reflector at Nauchnij, Crimea on November 8.05. It was placed on the PCCP as
gb00777 and quickly confirmed by other astrometrists. Krisztian Sarneczky found pre-discovery images of the comet
taken with the 0.60-m Schmidt at Piszkesteto, Hungary on October 28.10.
[MPEC 2024-V184, CBET 5474, 2024 November 13/14] The comet is at perihelion at 2.3 au in 2025 April.
The discovery is eligible for the Edgar Wilson Award.
2024 V2 (Sarneczky)
Krisztian Sarneczky discovered a comet in images taken with the 60 cm Schmidt at the Piszkesteto
Observatory in Hungary on November 10.10. It was placed on the PCCP as Sar2786 and confirmed by
other astrometrists. [MPEC 2024-W09, CBET 5475, 2024 November 18]. The comet was near perihelion at
1.2 au. It is intrinsically faint.
A/2024 VY4 [PANSTARRS]
PanSTARRS 2 discovered a 22nd magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
November 2.30. It was placed on the PCCP as P221uNp. There were pre-discovery images on October 6, 23, 24 and 30.
[MPEC 2024-W12, 2024 November 18] The object is in a retrograde orbit with perihelion at 1.3 au in 2025 March; it has a
period of approximately 120 years. It is classed as a Centaur by JPL.
2024 W1 (PANSTARRS)
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 21st magnitude comet in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
November 22.61. It was placed on the PCCP as P122bOL.
[MPEC 2024-X279, CBET 5478, 2024 December 10] The comet is at perihelion at 2.6 au in 2025 March
and according to the MPC is in a long period orbit, whilst the CBAT prefer a
parabolic orbit.
A/2024 WD5 [PANSTARRS]
PanSTARRS 1 discovered a 22nd magnitude object in images taken with the 1.8 m Ritchey-Chretien on
November 23.37. It was placed on the PCCP as P122dnY and then transferred to the NEOCP.
[MPEC 2024-W166, 2024 November 28] The object is in a retrograde orbit with perihelion at 3.5 au in 2024 September; it has a
period of approximately 100 years with large error bars as it is based on a sixteen day arc. It is classed as a Centaur by JPL
2024 X1 (Fazekas)
Jacqueline Fazekas discovered a comet of around 20th magnitude in images taken with
the 1.5-m reflector of the Mt Lemmon Survey on December 11.22. It was posted
on the PCCP as CCGTR32.
[MPEC 2024-Y20, CBET 5480, 2024 December 20/21]. The comet is at perihelion at
3.8 au in 2025 July and has a period of around 30±3 years. The MPC and JPL both give a period
of less than 30 years, in which case it should have a P/ designation, however the CBET gives
a period of over 30 years, which would require it to return before it can be given a P/ designation.
As the orbit is only over an 8-day arc it is not surprising that the period is still uncertain.
There is similar uncertainty as to whether and when it has approached Jupiter and Saturn in the past.
A/2024 XK14 [Bok]
A 23rd magnitude object was discovered at Kitt Peak on December 3.25 with the 2.25 m 'Bok' reflector
It was placed on the PCCP as C0WDZ65. [MPEC 2024-X264, 2024 December 9].
The object is at perihelion at 2.1 au in 2025 May in a retrograde orbit with a period of around 75 years.
For the moment JPL class it as a Centaur.
When observing a comet please try to forget how bright you think the comet
should be, what it was when you last viewed it, what other observers think
it is or what the ephemeris says it should be.
The equations for the light curves of comets that are currently visible
use only the raw observations and should give a reasonable prediction for
the current brightness. If the comet has not yet been observed or has
gone from view a correction for aperture is included, so that telescopic
observers should expect the comet to be fainter than given by the equation.
The correction is about 0.033 per centimetre. Values for the r parameter
given in square brackets [ ] are assumed. The form of the light curve is
either the standard m = H0 + 5 log d + K0 log r or the linear brightening
m = H0 + 5 log d + L0 abs(t - T + D0) where T is the date of perihelion,
t the present and D0 an offset, if L0 is +ve the comet brightens towards
perihelion and if D0 is +ve the comet is brightest prior to perihelion.
Observations of comets in 2024 are given in ICQ format.
Full details of recently discovered objects will not appear until they are
available on the CBAT web pages. The actual accuracy of preliminary orbits is often
(nearly always) much worse than the published
accuracy implies. In part this is because
each orbital solution is treated as a mathematical construct and does not take account of observational
error. JPL does publish the errors, whereas the MPECs do not.
Ephemerides of current comets are available on the CBAT
ephemeris page and positions of newly discovered comets are on the
NEO confirmation page.
A list of comets
discovered by selected search programs.
The Northumberland refractor
is the telescope that was used in the search for Neptune.
It now has a 0.30-m f20 doublet lens which gives a stellar limiting magnitude of around
15 at the zenith on good nights.
The Thorrowgood refractor was
built in 1864 and has a 0.20-m f14 doublet lens it is currently out of action
whilst snagging of the new dome is carried out.
Published by Jonathan Shanklin. Jon Shanklin - jds@ast.cam.ac.uk