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C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS)

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C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)
File:C2011L4discovery.jpg
Discovery image of Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) from the Pan-STARRS telescope
Discovery
Discovered byPan-STARRS
Discovery date06 June 2011
Orbital characteristics
Epoch2012-Mar-20
(JD 2456006.5)
AphelionUnknown
Perihelion0.30161 au (q)
Semi-major axisUnknown
Eccentricity1.000087
Orbital period~110000 yr
(Barycentric solution for epoch 2050)[1]
Inclination84.199°
Last perihelionUnknown
Next perihelion10 March 2013[2]

Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS), is a non-periodic comet discovered in June 2011, that is expected to be visible to the naked eye when it is near perihelion in March 2013.[3][4] The comet was discovered using the Pan-STARRS telescope located near the summit of Haleakala, on the island of Maui in Hawaii.

Comet C/2011 L4 had an apparent magnitude of 19 when it was discovered in June 2011.[5] By early May 2012, the comet had brightened to magnitude 13.5,[6] and could be seen visually when using a large amateur telescope from a dark site. As of October 2012, the coma (expanding tenuous dust atmosphere) was estimated to be about 120 000 km in diameter.[7] Comet PANSTARRS will pass closest to Earth on 5 March 2013 at a distance of 1.09 au.[4] It will come to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 10 March 2013.[2] Original estimates predicted the comet would brighten to roughly apparent magnitude 0 (roughly the brightness of Alpha Centauri A or Vega). An estimate in October 2012 predicted the comet might brighten to magnitude -4 (roughly equivalent to Venus).[8] In January 2013 there was a noticeable brightening slowdown that suggests the comet may only brighten to magnitude +1.[9]

Comet C/2011 L4 probably took millions of years to come from the Oort cloud. After leaving the planetary region of the Solar System, the post-perihelion orbital period is estimated to be about 110 000 years.[1]

See also

  • C/2012 S1 — may also be visible to the naked eye when it is near perihelion in late 2013.

References

  1. ^ a b Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)". Retrieved 2012-07-17. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  2. ^ a b "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 2012-07-14 last obs (data arc=1.15 yr). Retrieved 2012-06-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Comet Pan-STARRS: Still on Track". Sky & Telescope. 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  4. ^ a b Kronk, Gary W. "C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)". Retrieved 2012-06-13. (Cometography Home Page)
  5. ^ "MPEC 2011-L33 : COMET C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2012-05-17. (CK11L040)
  6. ^ "MPEC 2012-J16 : OBSERVATIONS AND ORBITS OF COMETS". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
  7. ^ Jakub Cerny (2012-10-07). "Watching comet Panstarrs activity". Robotic telescope FRAM. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  8. ^ J.P.Navarro Pina (2012-10-23). "UPDATE THE LIGHT VISUAL CURVE OF COMET C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS". COMETS & ASTROPHYSICAL. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  9. ^ Jakub Cerny (2013-01-12). "Comet Panstarrs brightening slowdown". comets-ml · Comets Mailing List. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
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