 Infrared image of 53P/Van Biesbroeck taken byNEOWISE on 26 April 2016 | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | George Van Biesbroeck |
| Discovery site | Yerkes Observatory |
| Discovery date | 1 September 1954 |
| Designations | |
| |
| |
| Orbital characteristics[4][5] | |
| Epoch | 13 September 2023 (JD 2460200.5) |
| Observation arc | 63.42 years |
| Number of observations | 3,195 |
| Aphelion | 8.423 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.445 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 5.434 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.55009 |
| Orbital period | 12.67 years |
| Inclination | 6.607° |
| 148.83° | |
| Argument of periapsis | 134.47° |
| Mean anomaly | 209.69° |
| Last perihelion | 29 April 2016[2] |
| Next perihelion | 24 December 2028[3] |
| TJupiter | 2.652 |
| EarthMOID | 1.416 AU |
| JupiterMOID | 0.009 AU |
| Physical characteristics[4][6] | |
Mean diameter | 6.66–6.74 km (4.14–4.19 mi) |
| Comet total magnitude (M1) | 10.0 |
| Comet nuclear magnitude (M2) | 12.5 |
53P/Van Biesbroeck is aperiodiccomet about 7.0 km (4.3 mi) in diameter.[4] Its current orbital period is 12.67 years.
The comet was discovered byGeorge Van Biesbroeck of theYerkes Observatory on 1 September 1954 while searching for the asteroid1953 GC.[1] The comet had an estimated apparent magnitude of 14.5 and appeared well condensed. The comet was then 1.85 AU (277 million km) from Earth and 2.86 AU (428 million km) from the Sun and had passed from its perigee, which took place on 17 August 1954. The comet was followed until 13 November 1955.[7]
This comet and42P/Neujmin are fragments of a parent comet that split around March 1845.[8][9][10] The orbit of 53P/Van Biesbroeck has a Jupiterminimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) of only 0.009 AU (1.3 million km; 840,000 mi).[4] The next perihelion passage is on Christmas Eve 24 December 2028.[5] The comet is expected to brighten to aboutapparent magnitude 14.
The nucleus of the comet has a radius of 3.33–3.37 km (2.07–2.09 mi) based on observations by theKeck Observatory.[6]
| Numbered comets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous 52P/Harrington–Abell | 53P/Van Biesbroeck | Next 54P/de Vico–Swift–NEAT |
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