18D/Perrine–Mrkos

18D/Perrine–Mrkos is a periodic comet in the Solar System, originally discovered by the American-Argentine astronomer Charles Dillon Perrine (Lick Observatory, California, United States) on December 9, 1896. For some time it was thought to be a fragment of Biela's Comet.[3]

18D/Perrine–Mrkos
Discovery
Discovered byCharles Dillon Perrine & Antonín Mrkos
Discovery dateDecember 9, 1896
Alternative
designations		1896 X1; 1896 VII;
1896g; 1909 P1;
1909 III; 1909b;
1955 U1; 1955 VII;
1955i; 1962 I;
1961h; 1968 VIII;
1968h
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch2002-09-03 (JD 2452520.5)
Aphelion5.8537 AU
Perihelion1.2872 AU
Semi-major axis3.5705 AU
Eccentricity0.6395
Orbital period6.75 a
Inclination17.864°
Last perihelion2017 Feb. 26[1]
(unobserved)
Next perihelion2025-Jan-01 (JPL Horizons)[1]
(Lost since 1969)[2]

It was considered lost after the 1909 appearance, but was rediscovered by the Czech astronomer Antonín Mrkos (Skalnate Pleso Observatory, Slovakia) on October 19, 1955, using ordinary binoculars, it was later confirmed as 18D by Leland E. Cunningham (Leuschner Observatory, University of California, Berkeley).

The comet was last observed during the 1968 perihelion passage when it passed 0.3144 AU (47,030,000 km; 29,230,000 mi) from the Earth.[4] The comet has not been observed during the following perihelion passages:[1]

  • 1975 Aug. 2
  • 1982 May 16
  • 1989 Feb. 28
  • 1995 Dec. 6
  • 2002 Sept.10
  • 2009 Apr. 17
  • 2017 Feb. 26

The next predicted perihelion passage would be on 2025-Jan-01[1] but the comet is currently considered lost as it has not been seen since Jan 1969.[2]

References
  1. Seiichi Yoshida (2009-09-19). "18D/Perrine-Mrkos". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  2. "18D/Perrine–Mrkos Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  3. Kronk, Gary W. (2001–2005). "18D/Perrine-Mrkos". Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-09. (Cometography Home Page)
  4. "JPL Close-Approach Data: 18D/Perrine-Mrkos" (1968-12-26 last obs). Retrieved 2012-02-22.
Numbered comets
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17P/Holmes		 18D/Perrine–Mrkos Next
19P/Borrelly


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