C/2010 X1 (Elenin)

Comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin) was discovered by Leonid Elenin (Lyubertsy, Russia) on four images obtained on 2010 December 10 using the 45cm astrograph and CCD camera at the International Scientific Optical Network's robotic observatory near Mayhill, New Mexico. By early August, the comet's rise in brightness was ahead of expectations, but it was apparently affected by a solar flare and CME on 2011 August 19 and exhibited a dramatic fade in brightness on August 20. By the end of August the comet's elongated appearance was suggestive of break-up and it is not expected to survive perihelion passage (0.48 AU) on 2011 September 10.

For up-to-date information about Comet Elenin and other comets, past, present and future, go to Michael Mattiazzo's Southern Comet Homepage.