Comet C/2018 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto) is a minor body that follows a slightly hyperbolic orbit (eccentricity > 1, 16.4-sigma). It was visually discovered on 7 November 2018 by Donald Machholz using an 18.5-inch reflecting telescope[2] and it reached perihelion on 3 December 2018.

C/2018 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto)

Path of comet across sky, with 7-day motion shown
Discovery
Discovered by	Donald Machholz
Discovery date	7 November 2018
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 16 November 2018
Observation arc	37 days
Perihelion	0.386954 AU
Eccentricity	1.00040
Orbital period (sidereal)	ejection (barycentric epoch 2050)
Mean anomaly	-0.00057
Inclination	143.9878°
Longitude of ascending node	128.7222°
Argument of perihelion	88.7749°
Earth MOID	0.115002 AU
Physical characteristics
Apparent magnitude	28.0

Overview

It was estimated to be between 8 and 10th magnitude from mid-November to mid-December 2018, visible in a small telescope. The value of its total (absolute magnitude of comet and coma) magnitude is 14.6 mag. It was discovered by three amateur astronomers: by an observer in Colfax, California, USA and by two observers in Japan.[3][2] The observations by three astronomers result in the name for the comet, Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto.[2][4] The current orbit determination of this comet is based on 750 observations with a 37-day observation arc.[1]

Comet C/2018 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto) has a significant probability (72.6%) of having an extrasolar provenance although an origin in the Oort Cloud cannot be excluded.[5] As the present-day value of its barycentric orbital eccentricity is greater than 1, this comet is currently escaping from the Solar System, aiming for interstellar space.[5]

• 
  Perihelion in early December 2018, above the orbit of Mercury
• 
  Animation of C/2018 V1's orbit
    Sun ·   Mercury  ·   Venus ·   Earth ·   Mars ·   C/2018 V1

See also

• List of parabolic comets

References

External links

• MPEC 2018-V151: COMET C/2018 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto)
• Amateur Don Machholz Discovers His 12th Comet!, Sky and Telescope, 9 November 2018
• Arizona Amateur Discovers New Dawn Comet — Here’s How To Find It Bob King, 11 November 2018
• Comet C/2018 V1 (Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto) Sky Charts and Coordinates Archived 15 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine
• JPL viewer
• C/2018 V1 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters

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