173P/Mueller

173P/Mueller
Discovery
Discovered byJean Mueller
Discovery dateNovember 20, 1993
Designations
1993 W1; 1994 XXV; 2005 T1
Orbital characteristics
EpochMarch 6, 2006
Aphelion7.202 AU
Perihelion4.213 AU
Semi-major axis5.707 AU
Eccentricity0.2618
Orbital period13.64 a
Inclination16.4919°
Last perihelionDecember 16, 2021[1][2]
May 18, 2008
Next perihelion2035-Aug-29[3]

173P/Mueller, also known as Mueller 5, is a periodic comet in the Solar System with an orbital period of 13.6 years.

The comet was discovered by Jean Mueller in plates exposed on 20 November 1993 as part of the second Palomar Sky Survey. The comet had an apparent magnitude of 17.5–18 and a tail about 80 arcseconds long.[4] The comet was recovered by Eric J. Christensen in images obtained on 6 October 2005 during the Mount Lemmon Survey. The comet then han an apparent magnitude of 18–18.4.[5]

The nucleus of the comet is estimated to have a radius of 4.28+0.95
−1.17 km based on infrared imaging by the Spitzer Space Telescope.[6]

References

  1. ^ "173P/Mueller Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  2. ^ Syuichi Nakano (2008-05-30). "173P/Mueller 5 (NK 1627)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  3. ^ "Horizons Batch for 173P/Mueller 5 on 2035-Aug-29" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Retrieved 2023-04-29. (JPL#110/Soln.date: 2022-Dec-08)
  4. ^ Green, Daniel (21 November 1993). "IAUC 5891: 1993s; RX J2107.9-0518; N Sgr 1993". www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu.
  5. ^ Green, Daniel (8 December 2005). "IAUC 8613: P/1993 W1 = 2005 T1". www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu.
  6. ^ Fernández, Y.R.; Kelley, M.S.; Lamy, P.L.; Toth, I.; Groussin, O.; Lisse, C.M.; A’Hearn, M.F.; Bauer, J.M.; Campins, H.; Fitzsimmons, A.; Licandro, J.; Lowry, S.C.; Meech, K.J.; Pittichová, J.; Reach, W.T.; Snodgrass, C.; Weaver, H.A. (September 2013). "Thermal properties, sizes, and size distribution of Jupiter-family cometary nuclei". Icarus. 226 (1): 1138–1170. arXiv:1307.6191. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2013.07.021.


Numbered comets
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