C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | M. E. Van Ness[1] LONEOS telescope at Lowell Observatory |
Discovery date | 28 July 2001[2] |
Orbital characteristics | |
Epoch | 15 December 2001[3] (JD 2452258.5) |
Aphelion | 25.606 AU (Q) |
Perihelion | 0.99404 AU (q) |
Semi-major axis | 13.300 AU (a) |
Eccentricity | 0.92526 |
Orbital period | 48.51 yr |
Inclination | 80.245° |
Last perihelion | 2002-Mar-15[3] |
Next perihelion | 2050-Jun-06[4] |
C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS) is a Halley-type comet with an orbital period of 48.51 years.[3] It was discovered on 28 July 2001 by the LONEOS telescope at Lowell Observatory.[2]
Observations taken in January and February 2002 showed that the "asteroid" had developed a small amount of cometary activity as it approached perihelion.[1] It was subsequently reclassified as a comet.[1] The comet came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 15 March 2002.[3] The next perihelion passage is calculated to be on 6 June 2050.[4]
The comet has a rotational period of 2.38 ± 0.02 days (57.12 hr).[1][3]
In 2003, the comet was estimated to have a mean absolute V magnitude (H) of 13.05 ± 0.10, with an albedo of 0.03, giving an effective radius of 8.9 ± 0.7 km.[1] Using data from Fernandez (2004–2005) JPL lists the comet with an albedo of 0.05 and a diameter of 13.6 ± 1.0 km.[3]
This comet probably represents the transition between typical Halley-family/long-period comets and extinct comets.[1] Damocloids have been studied as possible extinct cometary candidates due to the similarity of their orbital parameters with those of Halley-family comets.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Abell, Paul A.; Fernández, Yanga R.; Pravec, Petr; French, Linda M.; Farnham, Tony L.; Gaffey, Michael J.; Hardersen, Paul S.; Kušnirák, Peter; Šarounová, Lenka; Sheppard, Scott S. (2003). "Physical Characteristics of Asteroid-like Comet Nucleus C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)". 34th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Bibcode:2003LPI....34.1253A.
- ^ a b French, Linda M. (2002). "Pre-Activity BVRI Colors of High-Inclination Comet C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)". American Astronomical Society, DPS Meeting No. 34, #16.01. 34: 868. Bibcode:2002DPS....34.1601F.
- ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)" (last observation: 2002-07-03; arc: 340 days). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ a b Horizons output. "Observer Table for Comet C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)". Retrieved 7 April 2011. (Observer Location:@sun)
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris