111P/Helin–Roman–Crockett is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It was discovered by Eleanor and Ron Helin, Brian Roman and Randy Crockett on 5 January 1989 from images obtained on the 3rd and 4th of that month. It is a Jupiter family comet known for extremely close approaches to Jupiter being a Quasi-Hilda comet. During these approaches, it actually orbits Jupiter.[5] The last such approach was in 1976,[6] the next will be in 2071.[6] The Jovian orbits are highly elliptical and subject to intense Solar perturbation at apojove which eventually pulls the comet out of Jovian orbit for the cycle to begin anew.
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Eleanor F. Helin Ron Helin Brian P. Roman Randy L. Crockett Palomar Observatory (675) |
| Discovery date | January 5, 1989 |
| Designations | |
| 1988 XIII | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | March 6, 2006 |
| Aphelion | 4.607 AU |
| Perihelion | 3.474 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 4.041 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.1402 |
| Orbital period | 8.122 a |
| Inclination | 4.2326° |
| Last perihelion | June 15, 2021[1] January 30, 2013[2] December 27, 2004[3] |
| Next perihelion | 2029-Dec-09[4] |
Simulations predict such a cycle is unstable, the object will either be captured into an encounter orbit (e.g. Shoemaker-Levy 9) or expelled into a new orbit which does not have periodic approaches. This implies that 111P's orbit is recent within the past few thousand years. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with (TJupiter > 3; a < aJupiter).[7]
References
edit- ^ "111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
- ^ Syuichi Nakano (2005-10-26). "111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett (NK 1271)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
- ^ Seiichi Yoshida (2011-07-22). "111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
- ^ "Horizons Batch for 111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett on 2029-Dec-09" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Retrieved 2021-09-12. (JPL#8/Soln.date: 2013-Jan-28)
- ^ Tancredi, G. (1990). "The capture of P/Helin-Roman-Crockett by Jupiter". Comptes-rendus de la table ronde: nouveaux développements en planétologie dynamique. Nouveaux Développements en Planétologie Dynamique. pp. 273–279. Bibcode:1990ndpd.conf..273T.
- ^ a b "JPL Close-Approach Data: 111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett" (2001-09-20 last obs). Retrieved 2012-02-24.
- ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett" (2001-09-20 last obs). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
External links
edit- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
- 111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett – Seiichi Yoshida @ aerith.net
- Elements and Ephemeris for 111P/Helin-Roman-Crockett – Minor Planet Center
- 111P at Kronk's Cometography
- Helin, E.; Helin, R.; Roman, B.; Crockett, R.; Seki, T.; Kobayashi, T.; Endate, K.; Watanabe, K.; Shao, C. -Y.; Levy, D. (1989). "Comet Helin-Roman-Crockett (1989b)". International Astronomical Union Circular (4714): 1. Bibcode:1989IAUC.4714....1H.
- Observations, www.oaa.gr.jp