Comet McNaught

C/2006 P1
Discovery
Discovered by	Robert H. McNaught
Discovery date	August 7, 2006
Designations
Alternative designations	C/2006 P1, Comet McNaught, 2006 P1
Orbital characteristics
Epoch	2453990.5 (September 12, 2006)
Perihelion	0.170753998163775 AU
Semi-major axis	-5681.10388683203 AU
Eccentricity	1.00003005648226
Inclination	77.8276800447699°
Next perihelion	January 12, 2007

C/2006 P1, also known as Comet McNaught, is a non-periodic comet that was discovered on August 7, 2006 in Australia by Robert H. McNaught. It will make Perihelion on January 12, 2007, and has become visible to the naked eye.

Viewing

Comet McNaught has had its apparent magnitude estimated as high as -3, but due to its proximity to the sun it has a short window for viewing. It can be found close to the horizon, near Venus, Aquila, and Ophiuchus, for approximately 30 minutes after the sun sets in the northern hemisphere. After passing the sun, Comet McNaught should become visible in the southern hemisphere.

Comet McNaught is currently tied with Comet West (1975) as the 3rd brightest comet seen in the last 70 years, and the brightest in 30 years.^[2] It could become even brighter after making its closest pass to the sun on January 12, 2007. The comet entered SOHO LASCO C3's field of view on January 12, and is expected to be brighter than comet NEAT in 2003.

References

^ http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi
^ "Brightest comets seen since 1935". Harvard. Retrieved 2007-01-12.

External links

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[1] ttp://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi

[2] "Brightest comets seen since 1935". Harvard. Retrieved 2007-01-12.

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