Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh |
Discovery date | August 19, 1977 |
Designations | |
1978 IV; 1992 II | |
Orbital characteristics | |
Epoch | January 21, 2022 [1] |
Aphelion | 9.266 AU |
Perihelion | 2.344 AU |
Semi-major axis | 5.805 AU |
Eccentricity | 0.5962 |
Orbital period | 13.99
yr (5109 days)
[1] (5130 days for 101P-B) [2] |
Inclination | 5.052° |
Last perihelion | January 12, 2020 (A)
[1] January 31, 2020 (B) [3] December 25, 2005 (A) [4] December 24, 2005 (B) [5] |
Next perihelion | 2034-Jan-10 (A) (Horizons) 2034-Feb-21 (B) (Horizons) [6] |
101P/Chernykh [7] is a periodic comet which was first discovered on August 19, 1977, by Nikolaj Stepanovich Chernykh. [8] It will next come to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) in 2034.
In 1991, 101P/Chernykh was observed to split. Zdenek Sekanina, from JPL, concluded that the comet split in April 1991, when 3.3 AU from the Sun. [9]
The primary nucleus is 5.6 km (3.5 mi) in diameter and was last observed in 2022. [10] Fragment B has not been observed since 2006. [5] As of epoch 2022, fragment B takes 21 days longer to orbit the Sun. [2]
Year |
Horizons difference |
---|---|
2005 | 1 day |
2020 | 18 days |
2034 | 43 days |