Great Comet of 1819
AU | |
Eccentricity | 1.00 (assumed) |
---|---|
Inclination | 80.7517 |
Last perihelion | June 28, 1819 |
The Great Comet of 1819, officially designated as C/1819 N1, also known as Comet Tralles, was an exceptionally bright and easily visible comet, approaching an apparent magnitude of 1–2, discovered July 1, 1819 by the German astronomer Johann Georg Tralles in Berlin. It was the first comet analyzed using polarimetry, by French mathematician François Arago.[3][4]
Discovery
On July 1, 1819, Johann Georg Tralles in Berlin observed a brilliant comet low in the sky during the evening twilight. It was confirmed the next night by the astronomer Johann Elert Bode, also in Berlin.[3]
Observations
On July 2, Tralles found the comet to have a
Also on July 3,
Transit of the Sun
After the
Orbit
Orbital elements for the comet were calculated by several astronomers.[7] The orbit is classified as parabolic and is nearly perpendicular to Earth's orbital plane, with an inclination of 80°. It passed closest to the Earth on June 25 at a distance of 0.67 AU (100,000,000 km; 62,000,000 mi) and closest to the Sun on June 28 at 0.34 AU (51,000,000 km; 32,000,000 mi).[2]
The orbit of the comet and its transit of the Sun were later analyzed by astronomer John Russell Hind.[5]
In 2016 the orbit was recalculated based on a total of 692 observations of the comet taken in 1819, with the resulting conclusion that the comet will not return for over 3,000 years and represents no threat to the Earth, and that Near Eastern records around 2550 BCE may be found to mention its earlier passage.[6]
In literature
The comet was widely seen and noted by people who were not astronomers.
References
- ^ Kendall, E. Otis (1850). Uranography; or, a Description of the Heavens. p. 286.
- ^ a b "C/1819 N1 (Great comet): Orbital Elements". NASA.
- ^ ISBN 0-521-58505-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-107-04390-9.
- ^ .
- ^ ISSN 0185-1101.
- doi:10.1086/103688.
- ISBN 1-60938-204-8.
- ISBN 0-14-100182-8.
- ISBN 1-55591-022-X.