C/2013 V5

C/2013 V5

Discovery
Discovered by	Oukaimeden Observatory 0.5-m reflector (J43)
Discovery date	12 November 2013
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch	20 September 2014
Perihelion	0.62539 AU (q)
Eccentricity	0.99868
Orbital period	several million years inbound (Barycentric solution for epoch 1950) ~6000 years outbound (Barycentric solution for epoch 2050)
Inclination	154.88°
Last perihelion	28 September 2014

C/2013 V5 (Oukaimeden) is a retrograde Oort cloud comet discovered on 12 November 2013 by Oukaimeden Observatory at an apparent magnitude of 19.4 using a 0.5-meter (20 in) reflecting telescope.

From 5 May 2014 until 18 July 2014 it had an elongation less than 30 degrees from the Sun. By late August 2014 it had brighten to apparent magnitude 8 making it a small telescope and high-end binoculars target for experienced observers. It crossed the celestial equator on 30 August 2014 becoming a southern hemisphere object. On 16 September 2014 the comet passed 0.480 AU (71,800,000 km; 44,600,000 mi) from Earth. The comet peaked around magnitude 6.2 in mid-September 2014 but only had an elongation of about 35 degrees from the Sun. On 20 September 2014 the comet was visible in STEREO HI-1B. The comet came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 28 September 2014 at a distance of 0.625 AU (93,500,000 km; 58,100,000 mi) from the Sun.

C/2013 V5 is dynamically new. It came from the Oort cloud with a loosely bound chaotic orbit that was easily perturbed by galactic tides and passing stars. Before entering the planetary region (epoch 1950), C/2013 V5 had an orbital period of several million years. After leaving the planetary region (epoch 2050), it will have an orbital period of about 6000 years.

External links

• Activity level and perihelion distance (Bortle survival limit Jakub Cerny 11 August 2014)
• C/2013 V5 Oukaimeden wide-field (Damian Peach 31 August 2014)
• C/2013 V5 map for Aug 21 – Sept 5
• Did we catch disintegration of comet Oukaimeden? (FRAM)
• (C/2013 V5 magnitude)