94P/Russell

94P/Russell 4
94P (apmag ~17; 2.2AU from the Sun)
Discovery
Discovered byK. S. Russel[1]
Discovery dateMarch 7, 1984
Designations
1984 I;1990 XI
Orbital characteristics
EpochOctober 1, 2009
Aphelion4.793 AU (Q)
Perihelion2.240 AU (q)
Semi-major axis3.517 AU (a)
Eccentricity0.3630
Orbital period6.60 yr
Inclination6.182°
Last perihelion2023-May-21[2]
October 27, 2016[2]
March 29, 2010[1][3]
August 29, 2003[3]
Next perihelion2029-Dec-17[4]

94P/Russell 4 is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with (TJupiter > 3; a < aJupiter).[1] It was discovered by Ken Rusell[1] on photographic plates taken by M. Hawkins on March 7, 1984.[5] In the discovery images, Russell estimated that the comet had an apparent magnitude of 13 and a noticeable tail of 5 arc minutes.[5] In the year of discovery, the comet had come to perihelion in January 1984.[3]

With an aphelion (furthest distance from the Sun) of 4.7 AU,[1] comet 94P currently has an orbit contained completely inside of the orbit of Jupiter.

In July 1995, 94P was estimated to have a radius of about 2.6 km with an absolute magnitude (H) of 15.1.[6] It may have a very elongated nucleus with an axial ratio of a/b >= 3.[6]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MPC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Yoshida-94p was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Horizons2029 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Kronk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Snodgrass2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).