74P (apmag ~17; 3.6AU from the Sun) near galaxy PGC 49413 |
|
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by: | Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh |
| Discovery date: | March 4, 1975 |
| Alternate designations: | 1967 XV; 1975 VII; 1984 V; 1992 XXI |
| Orbital characteristics A | |
| Epoch: | May 1, 2009 |
| Aphelion: | 4.790 AU |
| Perihelion: | 3.557 AU |
| Semi-major axis: | 4.173 AU |
| Eccentricity: | 0.1485 |
| Orbital period: | 8.53 yr |
| Inclination: | 6.647° |
| Last perihelion: | July 30, 2009[1] |
| Next perihelion: | January 26, 2018[2] |
74P/Smirnova–Chernykh is a periodic comet in the solar system. It was discovered in late March 1975 by Tamara Mikhajlovna Smirnova while examining exposures from the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.[3] In the discovery images the comet had an apparent magnitude of ~15.[3] In the year of discovery, the comet came to perihelion on August 6, 1975.[3]
The comet had been photographed during 1967, but was identified as an asteroid and assigned the designation 1967 EU.[1]
The comet is estimated at about 4.46 km in diameter, and currently has an orbit contained completely inside of the orbit of Jupiter.[4]
| Periodic comets (by number) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann |
74P/Smirnova–Chernykh | Next 75D/Kohoutek |