39P/Oterma

39P/Oterma
Discovery
Discovered byLiisi Oterma
Discovery date8 April 1943
Designations
1942 VII; 1950 III; 1958 IV; 39P/2001 P3
Orbital characteristics
Epoch2023-06-25
Aphelion8.75 AU
Perihelion5.707 AU
Semi-major axis7.228 AU
Eccentricity0.2105
Orbital period19.43 yr
Max. orbital speed13.2 km/s[1]
Min. orbital speed8.6 km/s (2013-Feb-15)
Inclination1.5470°
Last perihelion2023-Jul-13 (JPL)[2]
11 July 2023[3][4][5]
22 December 2002[4][5]
Next perihelion2042-Jul-12[1]
Physical characteristics
Dimensions4–5 km[6]

39P/Oterma is a currently inactive periodic comet with an orbital period of nearly 20 years that stays outside the orbit of Jupiter. The nucleus has a diameter around 4–5 km.[6] It was last observed in August 2021 and came to perihelion in July 2023 while 1.2 AU from Jupiter.[2] It will finish the modest approach to Jupiter in January 2025[7] and will next come to perihelion in July 2042 at distance of 5.9 AU from the Sun.[1] Opposition has occurred on 11 November 2023.[8]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Horizons2042 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Horizons2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference MPC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Yoshida-39p was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NK810 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Schambeau2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Opposition2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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