41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák
Comet Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák on March 3, 2017 near Messier 108 and the Owl Nebula. | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Horace Parnell Tuttle Michel Giacobini Ľubor Kresák |
| Discovery date | May 3, 1858 |
| Designations | |
| |
| |
| Orbital characteristics[2][3] | |
| Epoch | September 13, 2023 (JD 2460200.5) |
| Observation arc | 72.38 years |
| Earliest precovery date | April 26, 1951 |
| Number of observations | 5,250 |
| Aphelion | 5.126 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.051 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 3.088 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.65981 |
| Orbital period | 5.428 years |
| Inclination | 9.219° |
| 140.99° | |
| Argument of periapsis | 62.227° |
| Mean anomaly | 66.147° |
| Last perihelion | 12 September 2022 |
| Next perihelion | 15 February 2028[1] |
| TJupiter | 2.827 |
| Earth MOID | 0.134 AU |
| Jupiter MOID | 0.488 AU |
| Physical characteristics[2] | |
Mean radius | 0.44–0.56 km (0.27–0.35 mi)[4] |
| Comet total magnitude (M1) | 16.9 |
41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák is a Jupiter-family comet with a 5.43-year orbit around the Sun. Observations with the Hubble Space Telescope and dynamical modeling estimate an effective nucleus radius of 440–560 m (1,440–1,840 ft), corresponding to a diameter of roughly 0.88–1.12 km (0.55–0.70 mi),[4] smaller than earlier ground-based estimates.[5]
Observational history
Discovery
Discovered by Horace Parnell Tuttle on May 3, 1858, and re-discovered independently by Michel Giacobini and Ľubor Kresák in 1907 and 1951 respectively, it is a member of the Jupiter family of comets.
2006 apparition
As of June 1, 2006, Comet 41P was a 10th magnitude object for telescopes, located on the Cancer-Leo border, with a predicted maximum of about 10 at perihelion on June 11. This comet is of interest as it has been noted to flare dramatically. In 1973 the flare was 10 magnitudes brighter than predicted, reaching easy naked-eye visibility at apparent magnitude 4.[6] However, by June 22, the comet had diminished to about magnitude 11, having produced no flare of note.
2011 apparition
The comet was not observed during the 2011 unfavorable apparition[7] since the perihelion passage occurred when the comet was on the far side of the Sun.
2017 apparition
41P was recovered on November 10, 2016, at apparent magnitude 21 by Pan-STARRS.[3] On April 1, 2017, the comet passed 0.142 AU (21.2 million km; 13.2 million mi) from the Earth.[8] The comet was expected to brighten to around magnitude 7 and be visible in binoculars.[9][10]
Observations during the apparition revealed rapid changes in the nucleus rotation rate, interpreted as being caused by strong outgassing torques near perihelion.[4]
Physical characteristics
High-resolution observations with the Hubble Space Telescope indicate that the nucleus of 41P has an effective radius between 440 and 560 m, based on photometry corrected for coma contamination and estimates from non-gravitational acceleration.[4]
Photometric observations show a lightcurve amplitude of about 0.4 magnitudes, implying an elongated nucleus with an axis ratio of at least 1.4:1. Period analysis gives a likely double-peaked rotation period of 0.599 days (14.4 hours). The comet exhibited rapid rotational deceleration near perihelion in 2017, attributed to asymmetric outgassing torques.
Modeling suggests that continued torques could lead to rotational instability on timescales of decades, potentially much shorter than the comet’s dynamical lifetime (~1,000 years). The nucleus may therefore be susceptible to rotational breakup.
Proposed exploration
In the 1960s, the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) investigated about sending a probe to the comet by 1973, however this proposal was later rejected.[11]
References
- ^ "Horizons Batch for 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak (90000489) on 2028-Feb-15" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Retrieved July 6, 2023. (JPL#K171/19 Soln.date: 2023-May-04)
- ^ a b "41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
- ^ a b "41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
- ^ a b c d D. C. Jewitt (2026). "Reversal of Spin: Comet 41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresak". arXiv:2602.06403 [astro-ph.EP]. PDF
- ^ P. L. Lamy; I. Toth; Y. R. Fernández; H. A. Weaver (2004). "The Sizes, Shapes, Albedos, and Colors of Cometary Nuclei" (PDF). Comets II. University of Arizona Press. pp. 223–264. doi:10.2307/j.ctv1v7zdq5.22. ISBN 978-0-8165-2450-1. JSTOR j.ctv1v7zdq5.22.
- ^ G. W. Kronk. "41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák". Cometography.com. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Seiichi Yoshida (July 22, 2011). "41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak (2011)". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- ^ "JPL Close-Approach Data: 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak" (August 27, 2006 last obs). Retrieved February 22, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Seiichi Yoshida (December 31, 2006). "41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
- ^ Bob King (January 4, 2017). "Bright Comet Prospects for 2017". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^ P. Ulivi; D. M. Harland (2007). Robotic Exploration of the Solar System Part I: The Golden Age 1957–1982. Springer. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-387-49326-8.
External links
- 41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák at the JPL Small-Body Database
- 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak at the Minor Planet Center's Database
- 41P at Kronk's Cometography