Comet Skjellerup-Maristany
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Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by: | John Francis Skjellerup, Edmundo Maristany |
Discovery date: | December 6, 1927 |
Alternate designations: | Great Comet of 1927, 1927 IX, 1927 X1 |
Orbital characteristics A | |
Epoch: | 2425240.5 |
Aphelion distance: | 2202 AU |
Perihelion distance: | 0.176 AU |
Semi-major axis: | 1101 AU |
Eccentricity: | 0.9998 |
Orbital period: | 36532 a |
Inclination: | 85.1° |
Last perihelion: | December 18, 1927 |
Next perihelion: | 38459 |
Comet Skjellerup-Maristany, formally designated C/1927 X1, 1927 IX, and 1927k, was a comet which became very bright in 1927. It was independently discovered by amateur astronomers John Francis Skjellerup in Australia on November 28, 1927 and Edmundo Maristany in Argentina on December 6, 1927, and noted for its strong yellow appearance, caused by emission from sodium atoms.