Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by |
Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh |
Discovery date | March 4, 1975 |
Designations | |
1967 XV; 1975 VII; 1984 V; 1992 XXI | |
Orbital characteristics | |
Epoch | May 1, 2009 |
Aphelion | 4.790 AU |
Perihelion | 3.557 AU |
Semi-major axis | 4.173 AU |
Eccentricity | 0.1485 |
Orbital period | 8.53 yr |
Inclination | 6.647° |
Last perihelion | January 26, 2018
[1] July 30, 2009 [2] |
Next perihelion | 2034-Jun-14 [3] |
74P/Smirnova–Chernykh is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with ( TJupiter > 3; a < aJupiter), [4] and is a Quasi-Hilda comet. [5] It was discovered in late March 1975 by Tamara Mikhajlovna Smirnova while examining exposures from the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. [6] In the discovery images the comet had an apparent magnitude of ~15. [6] In the year of discovery, the comet came to perihelion on August 6, 1975. [6]
The comet had been photographed during 1967, but was identified as an asteroid and assigned the designation 1967 EU. [2]
The comet is estimated at about 4.46 km in diameter, and currently has an orbit contained completely inside of the orbit of Jupiter. [4]
2009-12-30 last obs