10P/Tempel

10P/Tempel, also known as Tempel 2, is a periodic Jupiter-family comet in the Solar System. It was discovered in 1873 and has an orbital period of 5.3 years.[2]

10P/Tempel
Discovery
Discovered byErnst Wilhelm Leberecht Tempel
Discovery dateJuly 4, 1873
Alternative
designations
1873 II; 1878 III; 1894 III;
1899 IV; 1904 III; 1915 I;
1920 II; 1925 IV; 1930 VII;
1946 III; 1951 VIII; 1957 II;
1962 VI; 1967 X; 1972 X;
1978 V; 1983 X; 1988 XIV;
1994 VII;
Orbital characteristics A
EpochDecember 4, 2015
(JD 2457360.5)
Aphelion4.711 AU
Perihelion1.4176 AU
Semi-major axis3.064 AU
Eccentricity0.53736
Orbital period5.36 yr
Inclination12.028°
Earth MOID0.41 AU (61 million km)
Dimensions10.6 km[1]
Last perihelion14 November 2015[2][3]
4 July 2010[4][5]
Next perihelion2021-Mar-24[6]

The comet nucleus is estimated to be 10.6 kilometers in diameter with a low albedo of 0.022.[1] The nucleus is dark because hydrocarbons on the surface have been converted to a dark, tar like substance by solar ultraviolet radiation.

During the 2010 apparition the comet brightened to about apparent magnitude 8.[4] It next comes to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 14 November 2015 when it should brighten to around magnitude 11.[4]

The most favorable apparition of 10P/Tempel 2 was in 1925 when it came within 0.35 AU (52,000,000 km; 33,000,000 mi) of Earth with an apparent magnitude of 6.5.[7] On August 3, 2026, comet Tempel 2 is expected to have another close pass within about 0.41 AU of Earth.[8]

References

  1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 10P/Tempel 2" (last observation: 2014-03-29; arc: 67.91 years). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. "10P/Tempel Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-11-06.
  3. 10P at Kazuo Kinoshita home page
  4. Seiichi Yoshida (2008-01-27). "10P/Tempel 2". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  5. Syuichi Nakano (2007-04-10). "10P/Tempel 2 (NK 1460)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  6. Horizons output. "Observer Table for 10P/Tempel". Retrieved 2011-07-24. (Observer Location:@sun)
  7. Kronk, Gary W. "10P/Tempel 2". Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24. (Cometography Home Page)
  8. "JPL Close-Approach Data: 10P/Tempel 2" (last observation: 2014-03-29; arc: 67.91 years). Retrieved 2010-02-24.
Numbered comets
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