C/1993 Y1 (McNaught–Russell)

"Comet McNaught–Russell" redirects here. For other comets also co-discovered by R. H. McNaught and K. S. Russell, see Comet McNaught (disambiguation) § Others.
C/1993 Y1 (McNaught–Russell)
Discovery[1]
Discovered byRobert H. McNaught
Kenneth S. Russell
Discovery siteSiding Spring Observatory
Discovery date17 December 1993
Designations
C/1993 Y1
C/574 G1
1994 XI
1993v
Orbital characteristics[2][3]
Epoch28 April 1994 (JD 2449470.5)
Observation arc265 days
Number of
observations		377
Aphelion270 AU (inbound)
240 AU (outbound)
Perihelion0.8676 AU
Eccentricity0.9932
Orbital period1,600 years (inbound)
1,300 years (outbound)
1,430 ± 30 a
Inclination51.586°
166.359°
Argument of
periapsis		353.468°
Last perihelion31 March 1994
Next perihelion~3300
TJupiter0.755
Earth MOID0.1212 AU
Jupiter MOID2.6212 AU
Physical characteristics
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		12.3
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)		16.9
6.5
(1994 apparition)

Comet McNaught–Russell, formally designated as C/1993 Y1, is a long-period comet that reached a maximum magnitude of 6.5 (just below naked eye level) in early 1994. It was discovered by Robert H. McNaught and Kenneth S. Russell using the U.K. Schmidt Telescope in Australia. McNaught and Russell worked at Siding Spring Observatory and together discovered five comets between 1991 and 1995.

Orbit

Its orbital period was found to be very high – initially estimated at over 1400 years.

Historical records

C/574 G1
Discovery
Discovery siteChina
Discovery date4 April 574
Orbital characteristics[4]
Epoch25 March 574 (JD 1930794.5)
Observation arc49 days
Number of
observations		3
Perihelion0.730 AU
Orbital period1,430 ± 30 years
Inclination54°
155°
Argument of
periapsis		342°
Last perihelion25 March 574
31 March 1994
Next perihelion~3300

It was noted by Francois Colas (Paris observatory)[5] and Ichiro Hasegawa[6] that the path of McNaught–Russell coincided with that of comet C/574 G1, which was recorded in AD 574 over a period from April 4 to May 23 by observers in China. This would give the comet a period of 1430 ± 30 years and so making it the longest period comet to be seen on two separate returns. Since the comet was not observed to approach any planets, its orbit should remain largely unchanged on its next return. This would place its next approach to the inner Solar System around 3300.

References

  1. ^ D. W. Green (18 December 1993). "COMET McNAUGHT-RUSSELL (1993v)". Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. 5910.
  2. ^ "C/1993 Y1 (McNaught–Russell) – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  3. ^ Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet McNaught–Russell (C/1993 Y1)". Retrieved 25 August 2023. (Solution using the Solar System's barycenter (Sun+Jupiter). Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  4. ^ "C/574 G1 – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  5. ^ Guinness Book of Astronomy. London: Guinness Publishing. 1995.
  6. ^ D. W. Green (2 March 1994). "COMET McNAUGHT-RUSSELL (1993v)". Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. 5943.