88P/Howell
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Ellen Howell |
| Discovery date | August 29, 1981 |
| Designations | |
| 1981 X; 1987 VI; 1993 II | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | March 6, 2006 |
| Aphelion | 4.865 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.366 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 3.116 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.5615 |
| Orbital period | 5.5 a |
| Inclination | 4.3831° |
| Last perihelion | April 6, 2015[1][2] |
| Next perihelion | 2020 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 4.4 km[3] |
88P/Howell is a periodic comet in the solar system. It was discovered on 29 August 1981.[4] In 1975 the comet's perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) was 1.9 AU,[5] But a close approach to Jupiter in 1978[3] perturbed the perihelion distance closer to the Sun.
It last came to perihelion on 6 April 2015; the next occurrence will be in 2020.[1]
Around 14 September 2031 the comet will pass 0.074 AU (11,100,000 km; 6,900,000 mi) from Mars.[3]
References
- ^ a b Seiichi Yoshida (2011-07-22). "88P/Howell". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ^ Patrick Rocher (February 6, 2011). "Note number : 0081 P/Howell : 88P". Institut de mécanique céleste et de calcul des éphémérides. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
- ^ a b c "JPL Close-Approach Data: 88P/Howell" (last observation: 2014-04-08; arc: 11.18 years). Retrieved 2014-10-27.
- ^ Kronk, Gary W. "88P/Howell". Cometography. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
- ^ "88P/Howell Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
- 88P at Kronk's Cometography
- 88P at CometBase database
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