C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)

C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)
Discovery
Discovered byA. E. Thatcher
Discovery dateApril 5, 1861
Designations
1861 I
Orbital characteristics
Observation arc149 days
Number of
observations		187
Orbit typeLong period comet
Aphelion112 AU[1]
(beyond Eris)
Perihelion0.921 AU (1861)
0.917 AU (2283)[2]
Semi-major axis56.3 AU
Eccentricity0.983
Orbital period422 yr (barycentric)[1]
Inclination79.77°
Last perihelion1861-Jun-03[3]
Next perihelion2283 ±5[2]

Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) is a long-period comet with roughly a 422-year orbit that is expected to return around 2283. It was discovered by A. E. Thatcher. It is responsible for the April Lyrid meteor shower.[4] Carl Wilhelm Baeker also independently found this comet. The comet passed about 0.335 AU (50.1 million km; 31.1 million mi) from the Earth on 5 May 1861 and last came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 3 June 1861.[3]

C/1861 G1 is listed as a long-period "non-periodic comet" because it has not yet been observed at two perihelion passages. When it is seen to come back around 2283,[2] it should receive the P/ designation.

The comet is the parent body of the April Lyrids meteor shower.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference barycenter1900 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference horizons was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arter1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).