96P / Machholz 1
| 96P / Machholz 1 [i] | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Properties of the orbit ( animation ) | |
| Orbit type | short-term |
| Numerical eccentricity | 0.959 |
| Perihelion | 0.124 AU |
| Aphelion | 5.94 AU |
| Major semi-axis | 3.03 AU |
| Sidereal period | 5.28 a |
| Inclination of the orbit plane | 58.3 ° |
| Perihelion | October 28, 2017 |
| Orbital velocity in the perihelion | 118.5 km / s |
| Physical properties of the core | |
| Medium diameter | 6.4 km |
| history | |
| Explorer | D. Machholz |
| Date of discovery | May 12, 1986 |
| Older name | 1986 VIII, 1991 XII, 1986e |
| Source: Unless otherwise stated, the data comes from JPL Small-Body Database Browser . Please also note the note on comet articles . | |
96P / Machholz 1 is a short- period comet that last passed its perihelion in October 2017 .
A special feature of the comet is that it contains only 1.5 percent of the usual amount of the carbon-nitrogen compound dicyan . This is taken as an indication that it either originated in another solar system or that its orbit very close to the Sun is the cause of this composition.
discovery
On May 12, 1986, Don Edward Machholz discovered the comet with binoculars . The comet had an apparent magnitude of about 11 mag when it was discovered .
Orbit
The comet orbits the Sun in an elongated elliptical orbit in 5.28 years . The point of its orbit closest to the Sun is about half as far from the Sun as the innermost planet Mercury . The point furthest from the Sun is about 5.9 AU slightly outside the orbit of the planet Jupiter . The orbit is inclined around 58 ° to the ecliptic .
visibility
The comet passed perihelion on April 4, 2007. Here it had an apparent brightness of about 2 mag, but could only be observed with SOHO due to its proximity to the sun . It was not until mid-April 2007 that the 7 mag bright comet could be found in the morning sky. In 2012 he approached the sun again. Machholz had again achieved a brightness of 2 mag in mid-July 2012 and could again only be observed with SOHO from July 12 to 17, 2012. Another transit was recorded by SOHO from October 27-29, 2017.
See also
Web links
- Gary W. Kronk's Cometography (English)
- Pictures of SOHO (English)
- Ephemeris from 96P / Machholz (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Astronomical Journal: A Comet From Another Star? ( Memento from June 9, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Astronomical Journal: Transits of Objects through the LASCO / C3 field of view (FOV) in 2012 , accessed July 3, 2012
- ↑ https://eitv3.deviantart.com/art/Comet-Macholz-transit-2017-10-27-to-2017-10-29-712667342