38P/Stephan–Oterma

38P/Stephan–Oterma
Discovery
Discovered by: Coggia, Jerome E.
Discovery date: January 22, 1867
Alternate designations: P/1980 L2, P/1942 V1, P/1867 B1, 38P
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch: 1981-Apr-26
(JD 2444720.5)[1]
Aphelion: 20.920 AU
(near Uranus)
Perihelion: 1.5744 AU
(near Mars)
Semi-major axis: 11.247 AU
Eccentricity: 0.86002
Orbital period: 37.72 yr
Inclination: 17.981°
Last perihelion: December 5, 1980[2][1]
Next perihelion: November 10, 2018[2]

38P/Stephan–Oterma (also known as Comet Stephan–Oterma) is a periodic comet discovered in January 1867, by Jerome Coggia at Marseilles Observatory, France.[1]

Orbit

It has perihelion near the orbit of Mars and has aphelion near the orbit of Uranus. Acting like a centaur-hybrid, between the years 1982 and 2067, this object will make close approaches to the giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus.[3] If this object did not show a coma and had a perihelion beyond Jupiter (5AU), we would be calling it a centaur.

References

  1. ^ a b c "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 38P/Stephan-Oterma". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 1981-04-04 last obs. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=38P. Retrieved 2009-05-07. 
  2. ^ a b Seiichi Yoshida (2004-07-31). "38P/Stephan-Oterma". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/0038P/index.html. Retrieved 2011-10-23. 
  3. ^ a b "JPL Close-Approach Data: 38P/Stephan-Oterma". 1981-04-04 last obs. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=38P;cad=1#cad. Retrieved 2009-05-07. 

External links

Periodic comets (by number)
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