C/1997 L1 (Zhu–Balam)
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Zhu Jin David D. Balam |
| Discovery site | Beijing, China Victoria, Australia |
| Discovery date | 3–8 June 1997 |
| Designations | |
| Comet Xinglong[2] | |
| Orbital characteristics[3][4] | |
| Epoch | 22 August 1997 (JD 2450682.5) |
| Observation arc | 453 days (1.24 years) |
| Number of observations | 213 |
| Aphelion | ~4,800 AU |
| Perihelion | 4.899 AU |
| Semi-major axis | ~2,420 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.99797 |
| Orbital period | ~118,900 years |
| Inclination | 72.991° |
| 233.30° | |
| Argument of periapsis | 346.37° |
| Mean anomaly | 0.002° |
| Last perihelion | 22 November 1996 |
| TJupiter | 0.805 |
| Earth MOID | 3.9127 AU |
| Jupiter MOID | 0.4171 AU |
| Physical characteristics[3][5] | |
| Dimensions | 10 km (6.2 mi) |
| Comet total magnitude (M1) | 6.5 |
| Comet nuclear magnitude (M2) | 8.5 |
Comet Zhu–Balam, formally designated C/1997 L1, is a non-periodic comet first identified by David D. Balam on 8 June 1997, and originally photographed by Zhu Jin on 3 June 1997.[5][6] The comet is estimated at 10 kilometres in diameter,[5] with a period of approximately 36,895 years.[4]
Until 1998, the comet was formerly known as Comet Xinglong,[2] until the International Astronomical Union (IAU) agreed to rename it Zhu–Balam after its first two discoverers.[7]
Orbit
Given the orbital eccentricity of this object, different epochs can generate quite different heliocentric unperturbed two-body best-fit solutions to the aphelion distance (maximum distance) of this object. For objects at such high eccentricity, the Sun's barycentric coordinates are more stable than heliocentric coordinates. Using JPL Horizons the barycentric orbital elements for epoch 2015-Jan-01 generate a semi-major axis of 1,100 AU and a period of approximately 36,895 years.[4]
References
- ^ J. Zhu; D. D. Balam; et al. (8 June 1997). B. G. Marsden (ed.). "Comet C/1997 L1". IAU Circular. 6677 (1). Bibcode:1997IAUC.6677....1Z.
- ^ a b B. G. Marsden (13 June 1997). D. W. Green (ed.). "Comet C/1997 L1 (Xinglong)". IAU Circular. 6681 (2). Bibcode:1997IAUC.6681....2M.
- ^ a b "C/1997 L1 (Zhu–Balam) – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet Zhu-Balam (C/1997 L1)". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 31 January 2011. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
- ^ a b c M. McNeney (6 February 1998). "Sharp-eyed Balam co-discovers comet". The Ring. University of Victoria. Archived from the original on 25 October 2004. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ "New comet named after astronomers". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 13, 1998. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ B. G. Marsden (23 January 1998). "Comets C/1997 L1 and P/1997 T3". IAU Circular. 6811 (1). Bibcode:1998IAUC.6811....1M.
External links
- C/1997 L1 at the JPL Small-Body Database
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