158P/Kowal–LINEAR
Periodic comet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
158P/KowalâLINEAR is a Jupiter-family comet with a 10.3-year orbit around the Sun. It is one of six comets discovered by American astronomer, Charles T. Kowal, and also one of several by the LINEAR program.
12 September 2001
P/2001 RG100
| Discovery[1][2] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Charles T. Kowal LINEAR |
| Discovery site | Palomar Observatory |
| Discovery date | 24 July 1979 12 September 2001 |
| Designations | |
| P/1979 O1 P/2001 RG100 | |
| 1979h | |
| Orbital characteristics[3][4] | |
| Epoch | 12 July 2012 (JD 2456120.5) |
| Observation arc | 45.51 years |
| Number of observations | 1,093 |
| Aphelion | 4.865 AU |
| Perihelion | 4.576 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 4.721 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.03061 |
| Orbital period | 10.258 years |
| Inclination | 7.908° |
| 137.31° | |
| Argument of periapsis | 232.61° |
| Mean anomaly | 352.78° |
| Last perihelion | 12 May 2021[5] |
| Next perihelion | 8 November 2036[6] |
| TJupiter | 2.988 |
| Earth MOID | 3.579 AU |
| Jupiter MOID | 0.416 AU |
| Physical characteristics[3] | |
Mean radius | 5.42 km (3.37 mi)[7] |
| Comet total magnitude (M1) | 7.1 |
| Comet nuclear magnitude (M2) | 12.7 |
Observational history
1979 discovery and loss
In August 1979, Charles T. Kowal reported to the IAU that he had discovered a comet from photographic plates taken from the Palomar Observatory on 24 July 1979.[1] He described it as a diffuse 19th-magnitude object with no condensation nor tail within the constellation Sagitta.[a] Orbital calculations by Eleanor F. Helin indicated that Kowal's comet is periodic.[8] Brian G. Marsden confirmed Helin's computations, however he also noted that it was not observed since 27 July, essentially classifying Kowal's comet as lost.[9]
2003 rediscovery
In November 2003, A. E. Gleason reported cometary activity on an asteroid-like object found by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program called P/2001 RG100, first detected in 12 September 2001.[2] Further orbital calculations by Marsden and later Shuichi Nakano found that its orbit is identical to Kowal's previously lost comet in 1979.[10] After both comets were confirmed to be the same object, the IAU Committee on Small-Body Nomenclature agreed to rename the comet as 158P/KowalâLINEAR on 8 December 2003.[11]
Physical characteristics
Observations from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in 2012 indicated that the nucleus of 158P/KowalâLINEAR is approximately 5.42 km (3.37 mi) in radius.[7]
Orbit
The Minor Planet Center had the comet coming to perihelion on 9 May 2021,[4] and JPL had the comet coming to perihelion on 12 May 2021.[5] A close approach to Jupiter on 24 July 2022 will notably lift the orbit and increase the orbital period.[3] The next perihelion passage will be in 2036 at a distance of 5.2 AU (780 million km) from the Sun.[6]