94P/Russell

94P/Russell 4 is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with (T_Jupiter > 3; a < a_Jupiter).[1] It was discovered by Ken Rusell[1] on photographic plates taken by M. Hawkins on March 7, 1984.[4] In the discovery images, Russell estimated that the comet had an apparent magnitude of 13 and a noticeable tail of 5 arc minutes.[4] In the year of discovery, the comet had come to perihelion in January 1984.[3]

94P/Russell 4

94P (apmag ~17; 2.2AU from the Sun)
Discovery
Discovered by	K. S. Russel[1]
Discovery date	March 7, 1984
Alternative designations	1984 I;1990 XI
Orbital characteristics ^A
Epoch	October 1, 2009
Aphelion	4.793 AU (Q)
Perihelion	2.240 AU (q)
Semi-major axis	3.517 AU (a)
Eccentricity	0.3630
Orbital period	6.60 yr
Inclination	6.182°
Last perihelion	October 27, 2016[2] March 29, 2010[1][3] August 29, 2003[3]
Next perihelion	2023-May-21 (Horizons)

With an aphelion (furthest distance from the Sun) of 4.7 AU,[1] comet 94P currently has an orbit contained completely inside of the orbit of Jupiter.

In July 1995, 94P was estimated to have a radius of about 2.6 km with an absolute magnitude (H) of 15.1.[5] It may have a very elongated nucleus with an axial ratio of a/b >= 3.[5]

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 94P/Russell 4" (last observation: 2009-12-25). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
2. "94P/Russell Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
3. Seiichi Yoshida (2008-10-25). "94P/Russell 4". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
4. Kronk, Gary W. "94P/Russell 4". Retrieved 2010-02-19. (Cometography Home Page)
5. Snodgrass, Colin; Lowry, Stephen C.; Fitzsimmons, Alan (2007). "Optical observations of 23 distant Jupiter Family Comets, including 36P/Whipple at multiple phase angles". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 385 (2): 737–756. arXiv:0712.4204. Bibcode:2008MNRAS.385..737S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.12900.x.

External links

• Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
• Elements and Ephemeris for 94P/Russell – Minor Planet Center
• 94P/Russell at the Minor Planet Center's Database
• 94P at Kazuo Kinoshita's Comets
• Images of 94P/Russell 4 from the 2010 passage