Comet Skjellerup-Maristany

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C/1927 X1 (Skjellerup-Maristany)
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.

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