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May '24
Comet Borisov, previously designated as C/2019 Q4 (Borisov) and now officially 2I/Borisov, was the first ever interstellar comet discovered. The interstellar rogue object was discovered by the amateur astronomer Gennadiy Borisov on 30 August, 2019 but data shows it was observed as early as 18 December, 2018.[1]
Borisov is not bound to the Sun and is currently making its way out of the solar system. The comet reached perihelion on 8 December, 2019 and came as close as 2 AU to the Sun. The comet experienced fragmentation as it left the main solar system, which likely took half of its mass away. Borisov at brightest appeared at a magnitude of 15 but revaluations reveal it was at a magnitude of 8.[2]
References[]
- ↑ "C/2019 Q4 (Borisov)" JPL Small-Body Database Browser.
- ↑ Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov Swings Past Sun - NASA Science