C/2002 V1 (NEAT)
Encyclopedia
Comet C/2002 V1 is a non-periodic comet
that appeared in November 2002. The comet peaked with an apparent magnitude
of approximately –0.5, making it the 8th brightest comet seen since 1935. It was seen by SOHO
in February 2003. At perihelion the comet was only 0.099258 AU from the Sun. (Slight controversy arose when the comet failed to break up when it approached the sun, as expected by some scientists if it were a small comet.)
The comet was hit by a coronal mass ejection
during its pass near the sun; some rumoured it had "disturbed" the sun, but scientists dismissed this notion. The scientific consensus
is that there is no link between comets and CMEs that can not be explained through simple coincidence
, and there were 56 CMEs in February 2003. On February 18, 2003, comet C/2002 V1 (NEAT) passed 5.7 degrees from the Sun. C/2002 V1 (NEAT) appeared impressive as viewed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
(SOHO) as a result of the forward scattering of light off of the dust in the coma and tail. After the comet left LASCO
's field of view, on February 20, 2003, an object was seen at the bottom of a single frame. Although technicians dismissed this as a software bug
, rumours persisted that the object had been expelled from the sun.
The orbit of a long-period comet is properly obtained when the osculating orbit
is computed at an epoch
after leaving the planetary region and is calculated with respect to the center of mass of the solar system
. Using JPL Horizons, the barycentric orbital elements for epoch 2020-Jan-01 generate a semi-major axis
of 1,100 AU, an apoapsis distance of 2,230 AU, and a period of approximately 37,000 years.
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
that appeared in November 2002. The comet peaked with an apparent magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
of approximately –0.5, making it the 8th brightest comet seen since 1935. It was seen by SOHO
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory is a spacecraft built by a European industrial consortium led by Matra Marconi Space that was launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS launch vehicle on December 2, 1995 to study the Sun, and has discovered over 2100 comets. It began normal operations in May...
in February 2003. At perihelion the comet was only 0.099258 AU from the Sun. (Slight controversy arose when the comet failed to break up when it approached the sun, as expected by some scientists if it were a small comet.)
The comet was hit by a coronal mass ejection
Coronal mass ejection
A coronal mass ejection is a massive burst of solar wind, other light isotope plasma, and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space....
during its pass near the sun; some rumoured it had "disturbed" the sun, but scientists dismissed this notion. The scientific consensus
Scientific consensus
Scientific consensus is the collective judgment, position, and opinion of the community of scientists in a particular field of study. Consensus implies general agreement, though not necessarily unanimity. Scientific consensus is not by itself a scientific argument, and it is not part of the...
is that there is no link between comets and CMEs that can not be explained through simple coincidence
Coincidence
A coincidence is an event notable for its occurring in conjunction with other conditions, e.g. another event. As such, a coincidence occurs when something uncanny, accidental and unexpected happens under conditions named, but not under a defined relationship...
, and there were 56 CMEs in February 2003. On February 18, 2003, comet C/2002 V1 (NEAT) passed 5.7 degrees from the Sun. C/2002 V1 (NEAT) appeared impressive as viewed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory is a spacecraft built by a European industrial consortium led by Matra Marconi Space that was launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS launch vehicle on December 2, 1995 to study the Sun, and has discovered over 2100 comets. It began normal operations in May...
(SOHO) as a result of the forward scattering of light off of the dust in the coma and tail. After the comet left LASCO
LASCO Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph
The Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph is one of a number of instruments aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite...
's field of view, on February 20, 2003, an object was seen at the bottom of a single frame. Although technicians dismissed this as a software bug
Software bug
A software bug is the common term used to describe an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that produces an incorrect or unexpected result, or causes it to behave in unintended ways. Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in either a program's...
, rumours persisted that the object had been expelled from the sun.
The orbit of a long-period comet is properly obtained when the osculating orbit
Osculating orbit
In astronomy, and in particular in astrodynamics, the osculating orbit of an object in space is the gravitational Kepler orbit In astronomy, and in particular in astrodynamics, the osculating orbit of an object in space (at a given moment of time) is the gravitational Kepler orbit In astronomy,...
is computed at an epoch
Epoch (astronomy)
In astronomy, an epoch is a moment in time used as a reference point for some time-varying astronomical quantity, such as celestial coordinates, or elliptical orbital elements of a celestial body, where these are subject to perturbations and vary with time...
after leaving the planetary region and is calculated with respect to the center of mass of the solar system
Barycentric coordinates (astronomy)
In astronomy, barycentric coordinates are non-rotating coordinates with origin at the center of mass of two or more bodies.The barycenter is the point between two objects where they balance each other. For example, it is the center of mass where two or more celestial bodies orbit each other...
. Using JPL Horizons, the barycentric orbital elements for epoch 2020-Jan-01 generate a semi-major axis
Semi-major axis
The major axis of an ellipse is its longest diameter, a line that runs through the centre and both foci, its ends being at the widest points of the shape...
of 1,100 AU, an apoapsis distance of 2,230 AU, and a period of approximately 37,000 years.
External links
- Surf the Web to see the Sun-dancing comet (ESA 2003-Feb-12)
- Comet Neat Passes an Erupting Sun (APODAstronomy Picture of the DayAstronomy Picture of the Day is a website provided by NASA and Michigan Technological University . According to the website, "Each day a different image or photograph of our universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer."The photograph is not necessarily...
2003 February 24) - Spacewatch Friday: Promising New Comet Called NEAT (C/2002 V1) Graces Evening Sky - Space.com
- News story as comet hit by Coronal Mass Ejection
- Article about the Comet NEAT Conspiracy
- Images of Comet NEAT taken by LASCO during perihelion
- SOHO Hotshots of Comet NEAT