 Comet West on March 9, 1976 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Richard M. West |
| Discovery date | August 10, 1975 |
| Designations | |
| C/1975 V1, 1976 VI, 1975n | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | 1976-Mar-03 (JD 2442840.5)[1] |
| Aphelion | 1,500 AU (inbound) |
| Perihelion | 0.197 AU[1][2] |
| Eccentricity | 0.99997[1] (near parabolic) |
| Orbital period | chaotic (estimates up to 558,000 years) |
| Inclination | 43.0664°[1] |
| Last perihelion | February 25, 1976[1][2] |
| Next perihelion | unknown |
C/1975 V1 · Sun · Mercury · Venus · Earth · Mars
Comet West, formally designated C/1975 V1, 1976 VI, and 1975n, was a comet described as one of the brightest objects to pass through the inner Solar System in 1976. It is often described as a "great comet."[3]
- ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: C/1975 V1-A (West)" (1976-09-25 last obs (arc=412 days)). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Kronkwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Donald K. Yeomans (April 2007). "Great Comets in History". Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology (Solar System Dynamics). Retrieved 2007-12-28.