31P/Schwassmann–Wachmann

31P/Schwassmann–Wachmann
Discovery
Discovered by:

Arnold Schwassmann

Arno Arthur Wachmann
Discovery date: January 17, 1929
Alternate designations: 1929 I; 1935 III; 1942 I;
1948 VII; 1955 I; 1961 VII;
1968 II; 1974 XIII; 1981 VI;
1987 XIX; 1994 II
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch: March 6, 2006
Aphelion: 5.048 AU
Perihelion: 3.416 AU
Semi-major axis: 4.232 AU
Eccentricity: 0.1928
Orbital period: 8.705 a
Inclination: 4.5487°
Last perihelion: September 29, 2010[1]
January 18, 2002[1]
Next perihelion: 2019-Jul-06

31P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, also known as Schwassmann–Wachmann 2, is a periodic comet in our solar system. It was discovered on January 17, 1929, at an apparent magnitude of 11.[2] The comet has been seen at every apparition.

The comet nucleus is estimated to be 6.2 kilometers in diameter.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Seiichi Yoshida (2008-10-26). "31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/0031P/index.html. Retrieved 2010-01-24. 
  2. ^ Kronk, Gary W. "31P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 2". http://cometography.com/pcomets/031p.html. Retrieved 2010-01-24.  (Cometography Home Page)
  3. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 31P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 2". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 2010-01-21 last obs. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=31P. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 

External links

Periodic comets (by number)
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