C/2000 W1

C/2000 W1 (Utsunomiya-Jones)
Discovery
Discovered by Syogo Utsunomiya
Albert F. A. L. Jones[1]
Discovery date November 18, 2000
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch December 10, 2000
(JD 2451888.5)
Aphelion ~1660 AU[2] (Q)
Perihelion 0.32118 AU (q)
Semi-major axis ~832 AU[2] (a)
Eccentricity 0.9999996[3]
Orbital period ~24,000 yr[2]
Max. orbital speed 74.3 km/s (166,000 mph)
Inclination 160.16°
Last perihelion December 26, 2000
Next perihelion unknown

C/2000 W1 (Utsunomiya-Jones) is a long-period comet discovered on November 18, 2000, by Syogo Utsunomiya and Albert F. A. L. Jones.[1]

The comet has an observation arc of 58 days allowing a reasonable estimate of the orbit. But the near-parabolic trajectory with an osculating perihelion eccentricity of 0.9999996[3] generates an extreme unperturbed aphelion distance of 2,034,048 AU[3] (32 light-years). The orbit of a long-period comet is properly obtained when the osculating orbit is computed at an epoch after leaving the planetary region and is calculated with respect to the center of mass of the solar system. Using JPL Horizons, the barycentric orbital elements for epoch 2020-Jan-01 generate a semi-major axis of 832 AU, an aphelion distance of 1660 AU, and a period of approximately 24,000 years.[2]

C/2000 W1 disappeared in February 2001.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Andreas Kammerer. "Analysis of past comet apparitions: C/2000 W1 (Utsunomiya-Jones)". Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2000 W1 (Utsunomiya-Jones)". Retrieved 2011-03-02. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  3. 1 2 3 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: C/2000 W1 (Utsunomiya-Jones)" (last observation: 2001-01-23; arc: 58 days). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  4. ↑ "Split Comets (and observed to disintegrate or fade out)". International Comet Quarterly. Retrieved 2011-08-31. (magnitude chart)
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