Introduction
Welcome to the website for the comet 2I/Borisov (2019 Q4) Observing Campaign. This is the second object to be found to have an interstellar origin, and the first for which an extensive observing campaign is possible. Our intention is to provide a central clearinghouse for basic information about 2I/Borisov and about the observations that will be obtained during its apparition.
This site will contain background information about Comet 2I/Borisov, a list of observations that are planned/scheduled/obtained, and status reports on any events or discoveries that occur during the apparition.
Summary of the 2019/2020 Apparition
Comet 2I/Borisov is the second object found to have an interstellar origin
- Perihelion on Dec 08, 2019 at 13:21 UT (Orbit solution JPL#36)
- Heliocentric distance 2.007 AU
- Geocentric Distance @perihelion 1.994 AU
- Minimum Geocentric Distance Dec 28, 2019 - 1.936 AU
Brightness
Current estimates suggest it will peak in brightness peak around mag 16.4 at perihelion
Observing conditions (for observations at visible wavelengths)
Conditions are poor during the comet's approach to perihelion, with only a few hours of visibility in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Around perihelion, the conditions in the Southern hemisphere improve dramatically, and the comet will be visible most/all night from February through April. The comet is lost to the northern hemispher shortly after perihelion. For more information, see the Observing geometry page.
History
Discovery
Borisov was discovered Aug 30 2019 by Gennady Borisov at the MARGO observatory near Nauchnij, Crimea. After a week of observations, orbit solutions were already indicating the hyperbolic orbit.