Comet Kohoutek

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There are two other long-period comets named Kohoutek: C/1969 O1 (a.k.a. 1970 III, 1969b), and C/1973 D1 (a.k.a. 1973 VII, 1973e).
C/1973 E1(Kohoutek)
Comet as seen by the naked eye
Comet as seen by the naked eye
Discovery
Discovered by: Luboš Kohoutek
Discovery date: March 7, 1973
Alternate designations: "Comet of the Century" or "Comet Watergate"
Orbital characteristics A
Orbits of Comet Kohoutek and Earth
Orbits of Comet Kohoutek and Earth

Comet Kohoutek, formally designated C/1973 E1, 1973 XII, and 1973f, was first sighted on March 7, 1973 by Czech astronomer Luboš Kohoutek. It attained perihelion on December 26 that same year.

Kohoutek is a long period comet, with an orbital period of approximately 75,000 years. Kohoutek was hyped by the media as the "comet of the century" because scientists theorized that Kohoutek was an Oort Cloud Object. As such, it was believed likely that this was the comet's first visit to the inner solar system, which would result in a spectacular display of outgassing. However, Kohoutek's display was considered a let-down, leading some to nickname it "Comet Watergate". Infrared and visual telescopic study have led many scientists to conclude, in retrospect, that Kohoutek is actually a Kuiper belt object, which would account for its apparent rocky makeup and lack of outgassing.[1]

However, although it failed to brighten to levels expected, it was still a naked eye object. Its best viewing was in the night sky after perihelion, when it had dimmed to fourth magnitude The comet also sported a tail up to 25° long, along with an anti-tail.

Its greatest visual magnitude was -3, when it was at perihelion, 0.14 au from the Sun. Its orbital inclination is 14.3°.

C/1973 E1 should not be confused with the periodic comet 75D/Kohoutek, which can also be called "Comet Kohoutek" (as could the comets C/1969 O1 and C/1973 D1, also discovered by Luboš Kohoutek as sole discoverer).

This comet was observed by the crew of Skylab 4 and Soyuz 13, thus becoming the first comet to be observed by a manned spacecraft.

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[edit] Impact on popular culture

Because Comet Kohoutek fell far short of expectations, its name became synonymous with spectacular duds. However, it was fairly bright as comets go and put on a respectable show in the evenings shortly after perihelion.

In 1973, David Berg, founder of the Children of God, predicted that Comet Kohoutek foretold a colossal doomsday event in the United States in January 1974.[2][3] Children of God members distributed Berg's messages, which warned of impending doom, across the country. The majority of U.S.-based members then fled in anticipation to existing group communes (or formed new ones) around the world. No such event actually occurred.

Comet Kohoutek inspired numerous musicians and other artists:

  • The jazz composer Sun Ra performed the Concert for the Comet Kohoutek in December 1973.
  • The first single of German avant-garde music group Kraftwerk, released in December 1973, was called "Kohoutek-Kometenmelodie". On the album Autobahn, which appeared a few months later, the track title was shortened to "Kometenmelodie" (comet melody).
  • The first album of Yahowha 13 from 1973 is called Kohoutek.
  • Argent's 1974 album Nexus begins with three linked tracks inspired by Kohoutek: "The Coming of Kohoutek"; "Once Around the Sun"; and "Infinite Wanderer".
  • The rock band Journey wrote and recorded the instrumental "Kohoutek", which appeared on their self-titled debut album Journey in 1975.
  • The comet was a metaphor for a romantic relationship in the R.E.M. song "Kohoutek" on their 1985 record Fables of the Reconstruction.
  • Bill Carroll released an album in 1994 titled Kohoutek.
  • The English techno group 808 State wrote and recorded the instrumental "Kohoutek", which appeared on their 1996 album Don Solaris.
  • The annual Kohoutek Music and Arts festival at Pitzer College is a free event named after and in honor of the comet held every spring.
  • In The Simpsons episode 2F11, "Bart's Comet," Principal Skinner says he missed the chance to name a comet after himself once, but that he "got back" at Principal Kohoutek... "him and that little boy of his!"

[edit] See also

  • 75D/Kohoutek (a.k.a. 1975 III, 1975c, 1981 IX, 1980j, 1987 XXVII, 1986k)
  • 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura (a.k.a. 1975 IV, 1975b, 1981 VIII, 1980r, 1987 XV, 1987x, 1993 XXI, 1993o)

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/2/6/lifefocus/13229171&sec=lifefocus
  2. ^ The Christmas Monster!. By David Berg. 1973-09-08
  3. ^ 40 Days!—And Nineveh Shall Be Destroyed!. By David Berg. 1973-11-12.

[edit] External links