| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by: | Schelte J. Bus |
| Discovery date: | 1981 |
| Alternate designations: | Bus/1981b; Bus/1981 XI; |
| Orbital characteristics A | |
| Epoch: | March 6, 2006 |
| Aphelion: | 4.798 AU |
| Perihelion: | 2.174 AU |
| Semi-major axis: | 3.486 AU |
| Eccentricity: | 0.3764 |
| Orbital period: | 6.509 a |
| Inclination: | 2.5768° |
| Last perihelion: | July 7, 2007 |
| Next perihelion: | December 19, 2013[1] |
Comet 87P/Bus was discovered by Schelte J. Bus in 1981 on a plate taken with the 1.2m UK Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring, Australia. The discovery was announced in IAU Circular 3578 on March 4, 1981. The comet's orbit takes it around the Sun every 6.51 years.
| Periodic comets (by number) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous 86P/Wild |
87P/Bus | Next 88P/Howell |