C/1997 P2 Spacewatch
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Comet C/1997 P2 was discovered on 12 August 1997 at Kitt Peak (Spacewatch). It was then 2.5 weeks before perihelion passage; four days after itmade its closest approach to the Earth (on 16 August 1997, 3.26 au). Comet was observed 49 days (0.13 yr) in a narrow range of heliocentric distances: 4.267 au – 4.264 au (perihelion) – 4.272 au.
C/1997 P2 passed close to Jupiter six months before perihelion passage (0.652 au, 25 February 1997).
This likely Oort spike comet suffers strong planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system. These perturbations lead to escape of the comet from the solar system on hiperbolic orbit (see future barycentric orbit).
See also Królikowska and Dybczyński 2017.
C/1997 P2 passed close to Jupiter six months before perihelion passage (0.652 au, 25 February 1997).
This likely Oort spike comet suffers strong planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system. These perturbations lead to escape of the comet from the solar system on hiperbolic orbit (see future barycentric orbit).
See also Królikowska and Dybczyński 2017.
| solution description | ||
|---|---|---|
| number of observations | 95 | |
| data interval | 1997 08 12 – 1997 09 30 | |
| data type | perihelion within the observation arc (FULL) | |
| data arc selection | entire data set (STD) | |
| range of heliocentric distances | 4.27 au – 4.26 au (perihelion) – 4.27 au | |
| detectability of NG effects in the comet's motion | NG effects not determinable | |
| type of model of motion | GR - gravitational orbit | |
| data weighting | YES | |
| number of residuals | 184 | |
| RMS [arcseconds] | 0.59 | |
| orbit quality class | 2b | |
| orbital elements (heliocentric ecliptic J2000) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Epoch | 1997 08 20 | |
| perihelion date | 1997 08 30.30526827 | ± 0.74393976 |
| perihelion distance [au] | 4.26460692 | ± 0.00106347 |
| eccentricity | 1.02825332 | ± 0.00012512 |
| argument of perihelion [°] | 24.352136 | ± 0.128813 |
| ascending node [°] | 302.929810 | ± 0.010070 |
| inclination [°] | 14.592497 | ± 0.007105 |
| reciprocal semi-major axis [10-6 au-1] | -6,625.07 | ± 32.33 |
Time distribution of positional observations with corresponding heliocentric (red curve) and geocentric (green curve) distance at which they were taken. The horizontal dotted line shows the perihelion distance for a given comet whereas vertical dotted line — the moment of perihelion passage.