| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by: | M. E. Van Ness[1] LONEOS telescope at Lowell Observatory |
| Discovery date: | 2001-Jul-28[2] |
| Orbital characteristics A | |
| Epoch: | 2001-Dec-15[3] (JD 2452258.5) |
| Aphelion: | 25.606 AU (Q) |
| Perihelion: | 0.99404 AU (q) |
| Semi-major axis: | 13.300 AU (a) |
| Eccentricity: | 0.92526 |
| Orbital period: | 48.51 yr |
| Inclination: | 80.245° |
| Last perihelion: | 2002-Mar-15[3] |
| Next perihelion: | 2050-Jun-06[4] |
C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS) is a Halley-type comet with an orbital period of 48.51 years.[3] It was discovered on 28 July 2001 by the LONEOS telescope at Lowell Observatory.[2]
Observations taken in January and February 2002 showed that the object had developed a small amount of cometary activity as it approached perihelion.[1] It was subsequently reclassified as a comet.[1] The comet came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 15 March 2002.[3] The next perihelion passage is calculated to be on 6 June 2050.[4]
The comet has a rotational period of 2.38 ± 0.02 days (57.12 hr).[3][1]
In 2003, the comet was estimated to have a mean absolute V magnitude (H) of 13.05 ± 0.10, with an albedo of 0.03, giving an effective radius of 8.9 ± 0.7 km.[1] Using data from Fernandez (2004-2005) JPL lists the comet with an albedo of 0.05 and a diameter of 13.6 ± 1.0 km.[3]
This comet probably represents the transition between typical Halley Family/long period comets and extinct comets.[1] Damocloid asteroids have been studied as possible extinct cometary candidates due to the similarity of their orbital parameters with those of Halley Family comets.[1]