Re: [BAA Comets] Fragmentation of C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)
Nick James 19 Nov 2025 21:11 UTC
I've measured and received quite a bit of astrometry for the three
fragments of C/2025 K1. My latest analysis is attached and is on-line here:
https://nickdjames.com/Comets/2025/2025K1/2025k1_residuals_Nov19.png
I used Findorb with all the available MPC astrometry prior to solar
conjunction and some post-conjunction astrometry from G37 up to November
5 in order to compute a reference orbit. The residuals post
fragmentation based on this reference orbit are shown on the right hand
plots for each of the three components. The early green dots labelled
K1-A are probably a combination of all the fragments since they were not
clearly resolved then. At present fragment C is the brightest followed
by A. Fragment B is considerably fainter.
Trying to fit the reference orbit including post November 14 astrometry
for A or C leads to arcsecond level biases in the G37 astrometry.
The comet is well placed in the morning sky so please observe it if you
can. It is not often that we get such a good example of a fragmenting
nucleus.
Nick.