126P/IRAS

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126P/IRAS
Semi-major axis
5.643 AU
Orbital period13.406 years
Inclination45.832°
357.761°
Argument of
periapsis		356.727°
Last perihelion5 July 2023
TJupiter1.964
Earth MOID0.710 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.14 ± 0.28 km[3]
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		12.4[2]

126P/IRAS is a

Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) on 28 July 1983 by J. Davies. The discovery was confirmed with images taken with the 1.2-m Schmidt telescope at Palomar Observatory.[1][4]

Upon discovery the comet had an apparent magnitude of 15 and appeared stellar in appearance.[4] The comet brightened and in mid September 1983 reached an apparent magnitude of 11 while a tail 3.5 arcminutes long was observed. Brian G. Marsden computed its orbit and found it is a short period comet with an orbital period of 13.32 years.[1] The comet was observed again during its next apparition in 1996, when it brightened up to magnitude of about 11 in September 1996 and faded to about 12 in October.[5][6] The comet was observed during its 2010 and 2023 apparitions.[7]

During the 1996 apparition the comet was observed by the

mid infrared. The surface was covered with dust grains smaller than 5 microns, a grain size similar to Halley's Comet. The dust mass loss rate was between 150–600 kg/s, while the comet shed 3.3 times more dust mass than gas mass. The albedo of the dust grain in the tail was estimated to be 0.15 ± 0.03.[8] The nucleus is estimated to have a radius of 1.57 ± 0.14 km based on infrared observations.[3]

It has been proposed that meteoroids expelled from the comet about 13.000 years ago could reach Earth, producing a diffuse meteor shower.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Kronk, Gary. "126P/IRAS". cometography.com. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Small-Body Database Lookup: 126P/IRAS". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  3. ^
    doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20040073
    .
  4. ^ a b Green, Daniel. "IAUC 3833: Poss. COMET; HO 139-68; 1982d". www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  5. ISSN 0081-0304
    . Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. ISSN 0081-0304
    .
  7. ^ "126P/IRAS". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  8. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.05.015
    .
  9. doi:10.1007/s11038-012-9387-x
    .

External links


Numbered comets
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125P/Spacewatch 		126P/IRAS Next
127P/Holt–Olmstead
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