41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák

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**41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák**
Discovery
Discovered by:	Horace Parnell Tuttle Michel Giacobini Ľubor Kresák
Discovery date:	May 3, 1858
Alternate designations:	1858 III; 1907 III; 1951 IV; 1962 V; 1973 VI; 1978 XXV; 1990 II
Orbital characteristics ^A
Epoch:	March 6, 2006
Aphelion distance:	5.122 AU
Perihelion distance:	1.048 AU
Semi-major axis:	3.085 AU
Eccentricity:	0.6604
Orbital period:	5.419 a
Inclination:	9.2294°
Last perihelion:	January 7, 2001
Next perihelion (predicted):	June 11, 2006

41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák is a periodic comet in our solar system.

Discovered by Horace Parnell Tuttle on May 3, 1858, and re-discovered independently by Michel Giacobini and Ľubor Kresák in 1907 and 1951 respectively, it is a member of the Jupiter family of comets.

[edit] 2006 Apparition

As of June 1, 2006, Comet 41P was a 10th magnitude object for telescopes, located on the Gemini-Leo border, with a predicted maximum of about 10 at perihelion on June 11. This comet is of interest as it has been noted to flare dramatically. In 1973 the flare was 10 magnitudes brighter than predicted, reaching easy naked-eye visibility. ^[1]

However, by June 22, the comet had diminished to about magnitude 11, having produced no flare of note.