_September_4%2c_1962.jpg) Comet Humason photographed from thePalomar Observatory on 4 September 1962 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Milton L. Humason |
| Discovery date | 1 September 1961 |
| Designations | |
| 1961e 1962 VIII | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch | 12 May 1963 (JD 2438161.5) |
| Observation arc | 1,517 days (4.15 years) |
| Number of observations | 80 |
| Aphelion | 408.71 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.133 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 205.42 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.98961 |
| Orbital period | 2,883 years (inbound) 2,516 years (outbound) |
| Inclination | 153.278° |
| 155.439° | |
| Argument of periapsis | 233.562° |
| Last perihelion | 10 December 1962 |
| TJupiter | –1.588 |
| EarthMOID | 1.2247 AU |
| JupiterMOID | 1.0725 AU |
| Physical characteristics[2][3] | |
| Dimensions | 30–41 km (19–25 mi) |
| Comet total magnitude (M1) | 1.35–3.5 |
| Comet nuclear magnitude (M2) | 10.1 |
Comet Humason,formally designatedC/1961 R1 (a.k.a.1962 VIII and1961e), was anon-periodiccomet discovered byMilton L. Humason on 1 September 1961. Itsperihelion was well beyond the orbit ofMars, at 2.133AU. The outbound orbital period is about 2,516 years.
It was a "giant" comet, much more active than a normal comet for its distance to theSun, with anabsolute magnitude of 1.35−3.5,[3] and anucleus diameter estimated at 30–40 km (19–25 mi).[2] It could have been up to a hundred times brighter than an average new comet. It had an unusually disrupted or "turbulent" appearance.[4] It was also unusual in that the spectrum of its tail showed a strong predominance of the ionCO+, a result previously seen unambiguously only inC/1908 R1 (Morehouse).[5]
 | This comet-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
.png)
