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121P/Shoemaker–Holt

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Periodic comet with an eight-year orbit
121P/Shoemaker-Holt
Discovery
Discovered byCarolyn S. Shoemaker
Eugene Merle Shoemaker
Henry E. Holt
Discovery dateMarch 9, 1989
Designations
Alternative designations1989j; 1988 XI; 1995 Q3
Orbital characteristics
EpochMarch 6, 2006
Aphelion5.376 AU
Perihelion2.65 AU
Semi-major axis4.013 AU
Eccentricity0.3396
Orbital period8.039 a
Inclination17.7218°
Last perihelionSeptember 8, 2013
September 1, 2004
Next perihelion2023-Jun-28

121P/Shoemaker–Holt, also known as Shoemaker-Holt 2, is a periodic comet in the Solar System with an orbital period of about 8 years. The comet was discovered by Carolyn S. Shoemaker, Eugene M. Shoemaker, and Henry E. Holt on 9 March 1989. The comet then had an apparent magnitude of 13, was diffuse and had a tail about 2 arcminutes long. It was recovered by James V. Scotti on 29 August 1995 in images obtained as part of the Spacewatch survey.

The nucleus of the comet is estimated to have a radius of 3.87 km based on infrared imaging by the Spitzer Space Telescope, when the comet displayed dust emission. Observations of the comet from the Isaac Newton Telescope indicate an effective radius of 3.61 kilometers. The rotational period was calculated to be 10 hours, but with high uncertainty.

References

  1. Syuichi Nakano (2010-04-28). "121P/Shoemaker-Holt 2 (NK 1925)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  2. "121P/Shoemaker-Holt Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  3. Green, Daniel (10 March 1989). "IAUC 4755: 1989j; U Gem; 1989B; N Vul 1987". www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu.
  4. Scotti, J. V.; Green, D. W. E.; Marsden, B. G. (1 September 1995). "Comet P/1995 Q3 (Shoemaker-Holt 2)". International Astronomical Union Circular. 6219: 2. ISSN 0081-0304.
  5. Fernández, Y.R.; Kelley, M.S.; Lamy, P.L.; Toth, I.; Groussin, O.; Lisse, C.M.; A’Hearn, M.F.; Bauer, J.M.; Campins, H.; Fitzsimmons, A.; Licandro, J.; Lowry, S.C.; Meech, K.J.; Pittichová, J.; Reach, W.T.; Snodgrass, C.; Weaver, H.A. (September 2013). "Thermal properties, sizes, and size distribution of Jupiter-family cometary nuclei". Icarus. 226 (1): 1138–1170. arXiv:1307.6191. Bibcode:2013Icar..226.1138F. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2013.07.021.
  6. Snodgrass, C.; Lowry, S. C.; Fitzsimmons, A. (April 2008). "Optical observations of 23 distant Jupiter Family Comets, including 36P/Whipple at multiple phase angles". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 385 (2): 737–756. arXiv:0712.4204. Bibcode:2008MNRAS.385..737S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.12900.x.

External links


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120P/Mueller 		121P/Shoemaker–Holt Next
122P/de Vico
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