C/2012 K1 PANSTARRS
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Comet C/2012 K1 was discovered on 19 May 2012 with Pan-STARRS 1 telescope (Haleakala), that is more than 2 years before its perihelion passage. Later a few pre-discovery images were found taken on 14 May ( MASTER-II Observatory, Tunka) and 17 May (Pan-STARRS 1). It was almost systematically observed until 7 August 2016 (see picture).
C/2012 K1 had its closest approach to the Earth on 31 October 2014 (0.953 au), about 2 months after its perihelion passage.
Preferred solution given here is based on data spanning over 4.23 yr in a range of heliocentric distances: 8.83 au – 1.055 au (perihelion) – 7.85 au.
This Oort spike comet suffers small planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system that cause a bit tighter future orbit (see future barycentric orbits).
See also Królikowska 2020.
C/2012 K1 had its closest approach to the Earth on 31 October 2014 (0.953 au), about 2 months after its perihelion passage.
Preferred solution given here is based on data spanning over 4.23 yr in a range of heliocentric distances: 8.83 au – 1.055 au (perihelion) – 7.85 au.
This Oort spike comet suffers small planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system that cause a bit tighter future orbit (see future barycentric orbits).
See also Królikowska 2020.
solution description | ||
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number of observations | 7889 | |
data interval | 2012 05 14 – 2016 08 07 | |
data type | perihelion within the observation arc (FULL) | |
data arc selection | entire data set (STD) | |
range of heliocentric distances | 8.83 au – 1.05 au (perihelion) – 7.85 au | |
detectability of NG effects in the comet's motion | comet with NG effects strongly manifested in positional data fitting | |
type of model of motion | GR - gravitational orbit | |
data weighting | YES | |
number of residuals | 15752 | |
RMS [arcseconds] | 0.67 | |
orbit quality class | 1a+ |
next orbit statistics, both Galactic and stellar perturbations were taken into account | ||
---|---|---|
no. of returning VCs in the swarm | 5001 | * |
no. of escaping VCs in the swarm | 0 | |
no. of hyperbolas among escaping VCs in the swarm | 0 | |
next reciprocal semi-major axis [10-6 au-1] | 91.93 – 92.18 – 92.44 | |
next perihelion distance [au] | 1.173 – 1.174 – 1.176 | |
next aphelion distance [103 au] | 21.63 – 21.7 – 21.75 | |
time interval to next perihelion [Myr] | 1.124 – 1.129 – 1.133 | |
percentage of VCs with qnext < 10 | 100 |

Upper panel: 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.
Lower panel (panels): O-C diagram for this(two) solution (solutions) given in this database, where residuals in right ascension are shown using magenta dots and in declination by blue open circles.
Lower panel (panels): O-C diagram for this(two) solution (solutions) given in this database, where residuals in right ascension are shown using magenta dots and in declination by blue open circles.
next_g orbit statistics, here only the Galactic tide has been included | ||
---|---|---|
no. of returning VCs in the swarm | 5001 | * |
no. of escaping VCs in the swarm | 0 | |
no. of hyperbolas among escaping VCs in the swarm | 0 | |
next reciprocal semi-major axis [10-6 au-1] | 91.92 – 92.17 – 92.43 | |
next perihelion distance [au] | 1.189 – 1.191 – 1.192 | |
next aphelion distance [103 au] | 21.64 – 21.7 – 21.76 | |
time interval to next perihelion [Myr] | 1.124 – 1.129 – 1.134 | |
percentage of VCs with qnext < 10 | 100 |