55P/Tempel–Tuttle

55P/Tempel–Tuttle (commonly known as Comet Tempel–Tuttle) is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 33 years. It fits the classical definition of a Halley-type comet with a period of between 20 and 200 years. It was independently discovered by Wilhelm Tempel on December 19, 1865, and by Horace Parnell Tuttle on January 6, 1866.

55P/Tempel–Tuttle
Discovery
Discovered byWilhelm Tempel and Horace Parnell Tuttle
Discovery dateDecember 19, 1865
Alternative
designations		1366 U1; 1699 U1;
1699 II; 1865 Y1;
1866 I; 1965 M2;
1965 IV; 1965i;
1997 E1
Orbital characteristics A
EpochMarch 8, 1998 (JD 2450880.5)
Aphelion19.6924 AU
Perihelion0.9766 AU
Semi-major axis10.3345 AU
Eccentricity0.9055
Orbital period33.2226 a
Inclination162.486°
Earth MOID0.008 AU (1,200,000 km)[1]
Last perihelionFebruary 28, 1998
Next perihelionMay 20, 2031[2][3]

It is the parent body of the Leonid meteor shower. In 1699, it was observed by Gottfried Kirch[4] but was not recognized as a periodic comet until the discoveries by Tempel and Tuttle during the 1866 perihelion. In 1933, S. Kanda deduced that the comet of 1366 was Tempel–Tuttle, which was confirmed by Joachim Schubart in 1965.[4] On 26 October 1366, the comet passed 0.0229 AU (3,430,000 km; 2,130,000 mi) from Earth.[5]

The orbit of 55P/Tempel–Tuttle intersects that of Earth nearly exactly, hence streams of material ejected from the comet during perihelion passes do not have to spread out over time to encounter Earth. The comet currently has an Earth-MOID of 0.008 AU (1,200,000 km; 740,000 mi).[1] This coincidence means that streams from the comet at perihelion are still dense when they encounter Earth, resulting in the 33-year cycle of Leonid meteor storms. For example, in November 2009, the Earth passed through meteors left behind mainly from the 1466 and 1533 orbit.[6]

In February, 2016, two bolides detected by the NASA All-Sky Fireball Network were calculated to have orbits consistent with those of 55P, although with a node 100 degrees less than 55P. The reason for this is yet to be determined.

55P/Tempel–Tuttle is estimated to have a nucleus of mass 1.2×1013 kg[7] and radius 1.8 km[7] and a stream of mass 5×1012 kg.[7]

Animation of 55P/Tempel–Tuttle's orbit from 1990 to 2180
Around Sun
Around Earth
   Sun ·    Earth ·    Mars ·    Jupiter ·   55P/Tempel–Tuttle

See also

References
  1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle" (last observation: 1998-07-05). Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  2. Seiichi Yoshida (2005-12-12). "55P/Tempel-Tuttle". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  3. "55P/Tempel-Tuttle Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  4. C&MS: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle
  5. "Closest Approaches to the Earth by Comets". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
  6. BBC News (November 17, 2009). "Star gazers hoping for clear sky". Archived from the original on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  7. David C. Jewitt. "From Cradle To Grave: The Rise and Demise of the Comets" (PDF). Comets II. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
Numbered comets
Previous
54P/de Vico–Swift–NEAT		 55P/Tempel–Tuttle Next
56P/Slaughter–Burnham


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