Jump to content

121P/Shoemaker–Holt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
121P/Shoemaker-Holt
Discovery
Discovered byCarolyn S. Shoemaker
Eugene Merle Shoemaker
Henry E. Holt
Discovery dateMarch 9, 1989
Designations
1989j; 1988 XI; 1995 Q3
Orbital characteristics
EpochMarch 6, 2006
Aphelion5.376 AU
Perihelion2.65 AU
Semi-major axis4.013 AU
Eccentricity0.3396
Orbital period8.039 a
Inclination17.7218°
Last perihelionSeptember 8, 2013[1]
September 1, 2004
Next perihelion2023-Jun-28[2]

121P/Shoemaker–Holt, also known as Shoemaker-Holt 2, is a periodic comet in the Solar System with an orbital period of about 8 years. The comet was discovered by Carolyn S. Shoemaker, Eugene M. Shoemaker, and Henry E. Holt on 9 March 1989. The comet then had an apparent magnitude of 13, was diffuse and had a tail about 2 arcminutes long.[3] It was recovered by James V. Scotti on 29 August 1995 in images obtained as part of the Spacewatch survey.[4]

The nucleus of the comet is estimated to have a radius of 3.87 km based on infrared imaging by the Spitzer Space Telescope, when the comet displayed dust emission.[5] Observations of the comet from the Isaac Newton Telescope indicate an effective radius of 3.61 kilometers. The rotational period was calculated to be 10 hours, but with high uncertainty.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Syuichi Nakano (2010-04-28). "121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2 (NK 1925)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  2. ^ "121P/Shoemaker-Holt Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  3. ^ Green, Daniel (10 March 1989). "IAUC 4755: 1989j; U Gem; 1989B; N Vul 1987". www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu.
  4. ^ Scotti, J. V.; Green, D. W. E.; Marsden, B. G. (1 September 1995). "Comet P/1995 Q3 (Shoemaker-Holt 2)". International Astronomical Union Circular. 6219: 2. ISSN 0081-0304.
  5. ^ Fernández, Y.R.; Kelley, M.S.; Lamy, P.L.; Toth, I.; Groussin, O.; Lisse, C.M.; A’Hearn, M.F.; Bauer, J.M.; Campins, H.; Fitzsimmons, A.; Licandro, J.; Lowry, S.C.; Meech, K.J.; Pittichová, J.; Reach, W.T.; Snodgrass, C.; Weaver, H.A. (September 2013). "Thermal properties, sizes, and size distribution of Jupiter-family cometary nuclei". Icarus. 226 (1): 1138–1170. arXiv:1307.6191. Bibcode:2013Icar..226.1138F. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2013.07.021.
  6. ^ Snodgrass, C.; Lowry, S. C.; Fitzsimmons, A. (April 2008). "Optical observations of 23 distant Jupiter Family Comets, including 36P/Whipple at multiple phase angles". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 385 (2): 737–756. arXiv:0712.4204. Bibcode:2008MNRAS.385..737S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.12900.x.
[edit]


Numbered comets
Previous
120P/Mueller
121P/Shoemaker–Holt Next
122P/de Vico