45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková

45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková
Discovery
Discovered by Minoru Honda
Discovery date December 3, 1948
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch 2011-Jun-08
(JD 2455720.5)
Aphelion 5.511 AU
Perihelion 0.5296 AU
Semi-major axis 3.0205 AU
Eccentricity 0.8246
Orbital period 5.25 yr
Inclination 4.257°
Last perihelion September 28, 2011[1]
June 29, 2006[2][3]
March 29, 2001
December 25, 1995
Next perihelion 2016-Dec-31[4]

45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková is a short-period comet discovered by Minoru Honda December 3, 1948.[5] The comet is named after Minoru Honda, Antonín Mrkos, and Ľudmila Pajdušáková. The comet is on an elliptical orbit with a period of 5.25 years.[1] The comet nucleus is estimated to be 0.5-1.6 kilometers in diameter.[1][6] During the 2011 perihelion passage the comet was recovered on 5 June 2011 at apparent magnitude 21.[7] On 8 July 2011 the comet had a magnitude of approximately 18,[8] and as of 22 July 2011 the comet's nuclear condensation had a magnitude of approximately 16.[9] The comet is expected to reach a peak magnitude of around 7.3 in late September when it is near perihelion.[10]

The comet made a close approach of only 0.0600 AU (8,980,000 km; 5,580,000 mi) from the Earth on August 15, 2011,[11][12] and was studied by the Goldstone Deep Space Network on August 19 and 20.[6] Goldstone radar observations on 2011 August 19 and 20 detected echoes from the nucleus and coma.[13] This is only the fifteenth comet that has been detected with radar.[13] The comet will also pass close to Earth on February 11, 2017.[11]

During the 1995 perihelion passage the comet was visible to Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on January 16, 1996 when the comet was around apparent magnitude 7 and 4.3° from the Sun.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 24 December 2015. last obs. used: 2012-04-12
  2. Seiichi Yoshida (2007-04-19). "45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  3. Syuichi Nakano (2006-06-30). "45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova (NK 1357)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  4. Syuichi Nakano (September 10, 2011). "45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova (NK 2118)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova". Gary W. Kronk's Cometography. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  6. 1 2 Dr. Lance A. M. Benner (July 22, 2011). "45P Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova Goldstone Radar Observations Planning". NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  7. "MPEC 2011-L51 : OBSERVATIONS AND ORBITS OF COMETS". IAU Minor Planet Center. June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  8. "MPEC 2011-N34 : OBSERVATIONS AND ORBITS OF COMETS". IAU Minor Planet Center. July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  9. "MPEC 2011-O24 : OBSERVATIONS AND ORBITS OF COMETS". IAU Minor Planet Center. July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  10. "Elements and Ephemeris for 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova". minorplanetcenter.net. Comet Ephemeris Service at the IAU Minor Planet Center. Retrieved July 23, 2011. (0045P)
  11. 1 2 "JPL Close-Approach Data: 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova". Retrieved 24 December 2015. last obs. used: 2012-04-12
  12. "Comet Orbit Home Page". Kazuo Kinoshita. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  13. 1 2 "Goldstone Radar Detection of Comet HMP (Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková)". NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved September 28, 2011.

External links

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