C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by |
M. E. Van Ness[1] LONEOS telescope at Lowell Observatory |
| Discovery date | 28 July 2001[2] |
| Orbital characteristics A | |
| Epoch |
15 December 2001[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 "asteroid" 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).[1][3]
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] Damocloids have been studied as possible extinct cometary candidates due to the similarity of their orbital parameters with those of Halley-family comets.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Abell, P. A.; Fernandez, Y. R.; Pravec, P.; French, L.M.; Farnham, T.L.; Gaffey, M.J.; Hardersen, P.S.; Kusnirak, P.; Sarounova, L.; Sheppard, S.S. (2003). "Physical Characteristics of Asteroid-like Comet Nucleus C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)". 34th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Bibcode:2003LPI....34.1253A.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 French, L.M. (2002). "Pre-Activity BVRI Colors of High-Inclination Comet C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)". American Astronomical Society, DPS Meeting No. 34, #16.01 34: 868. Bibcode:2002DPS....34.1601F.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)" (last observation: 2002-07-03; arc: 340 days). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Horizons output. "Observer Table for Comet C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS)". Retrieved 7 April 2011. (Observer Location:@sun)
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris