C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR)
non-periodic comet
C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR) is a non-periodic comet discovered by the LINEAR survey on 13 November 2006.
Discovery and observations
The object was initially believed to be an asteroid due to its stellar appearance in the early images. However, observers soon detected a small coma and the telltale green cometary cast.
The comet peaked at approximately magnitude +7.5, much brighter than predicted. The comet made its closest approach to Earth on 14 July 2007 at a distance of 0.575 AU (86.0 million km). It reached perihelion on 10 August 2007 at a distance of 1.015 AU (151.8 million km).
Physical characteristics
Infrared measurements from the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) in July 2007 yielded a mean grain temperature of 275±5 K, which was 6 percent higher than the equivalent radiative equilibrium blackbody of the comet at its distance from the Sun, which was approximately 1.02 AU at the time. Spectroscopic observations on the following month reveal that the comet's composition is depleted of carbon compounds, comparable to what was observed from 9P/Tempel.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR)” is non-periodic comet. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through VZ13, LINEAR and non-periodic, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “non-periodic comet” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 16, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1748397. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2006 and 2007.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR)”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR) primary sources, C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR) archive and VZ13 research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR)”?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “C/2006 VZ13 (LINEAR)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.