7P/Pons–Winnecke
Semi-major axis 3.41 AU | | |
| Eccentricity | 0.6385 | |
|---|---|---|
| Orbital period | 6.30 yrs | |
| Inclination | 22.373° | |
| Last perihelion | May 27, 2021[2] January 30, 2015[3] September 26, 2008 | |
| Next perihelion | 2027-Aug-25[4][5] | |
| Earth MOID | 0.24 AU (36 million km) | |
| Physical characteristics | ||
| Dimensions | 5.2 km[6] | |
| Perihelion distance at different epochs[5] | |||||||
| Epoch | Perihelion )
(AU | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1819 | 0.77 | ||||||
| 1875 | 0.83 | ||||||
| 1886 | 0.89 | ||||||
| 1898 | 0.92 | ||||||
| 1909 | 0.97 | ||||||
| 1921 | 1.04 | ||||||
| 1933 | 1.10 | ||||||
| 1989 | 1.26 | ||||||
| 2027 | 1.13 | ||||||
| 2039 | 0.982 | ||||||
| 2062 | 0.847 | ||||||
7P/Pons–Winnecke (also known as Comet Pons–Winnecke) is a
Jupiter-family comet with a six-year orbit. Early calculations for the 1921 apparition suggested that the orbit of the comet might collide with Earth in June, but observations on 10 April ruled out an impact.[1] It made a very close approach to Earth in June 1927.[7] The outward migration of perihelion created impressive meteor showers in 1916, 1921 and 1927.[8]
The next
solar elongation of 63 degrees. The last perihelion passage was 27 May 2021 when the comet had a solar elongation of 107 degrees at approximately apparent magnitude 11.[3] It passed 0.44 AU (66 million km) from Earth on 12 June 2021. Before that it came to perihelion on 30 January 2015[3] with a solar elongation of 24 degrees.[9]
Jean Louis Pons (Marseille) originally discovered the comet on 12 June 1819, it was later rediscovered by Friedrich August Theodor Winnecke (Bonn) on 9 March 1858. It is the parent body of the June Bootids
of late June.
7P has an orbital period of 6.3 years. It currently has a
LD) of Earth in June 1927, and 0.1 AU (15 million km) in 1939;[6] but it will not come as close in the 21st century. A close approach to Jupiter in July 2037[6] will drop perihelion to 0.982 AU, and by 2062 perihelion will be further reduced to 0.85 AU.[5]
| Date & time of closest approach |
Earth distance (AU) |
Sun distance (AU) |
Velocity wrt Earth (km/s) |
Velocity wrt Sun (km/s) |
Uncertainty region ( 3-sigma )
|
Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2062-Jun-12 18:25 ± 10 min | 0.1676 LD ) |
0.8499 AU (127.14 million km; 79.00 million mi; 330.8 LD) | 16.3 | 42.5 | ± 312 km | Horizons |
The comet nucleus is estimated at about 5.2 km in diameter.[6]
Proposed exploration
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory proposed a flyby of the comet with a flight spare of Mariner 4 with the closest approach taking place in 1969.[10] The probe was instead used for a Venus flyby as Mariner 5.[10]
References
- ^ a b Popular Science July 1921
- ^ a b "7P/Pons-Winnecke". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
- ^ a b c Seiichi Yoshida (2013-12-14). "7P/Pons-Winnecke". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
- ^ a b "Horizons Batch for 7P/Pons-Winnecke (90000167) on 2027-Aug-25" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Retrieved 2022-06-15. (JPL#24/Soln.date: 2021-Dec-20)
- ^ a b c Kinoshita, Kazuo (2016-07-31). "7P/Pons-Winnecke past, present and future orbital elements". Comet Orbit. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
- ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 7P/Pons-Winnecke" (last observation:2014-03-28). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ "Record Close Comet Distances from Earth".
- ^ Kronk, Gary W. "7P/Pons-Winnecker". Retrieved 2019-03-05. (Cometography Home Page)
- ^ "Elements and Ephemeris for 7P/Pons-Winnecke". Minor Planet Center. Archived from the original on 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2014-10-29. (0007P)
- ^ ISBN 9780387493268.
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
- Elements and Ephemeris for 7P/Pons-Winnecke – Minor Planet Center
- 7P/Pons-Winnecke – Seiichi Yoshida @ aerith.net
- 7P – Gary W. Kronk's Cometography
- article on the nuclei of 7P, 14P, and 92P
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