| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Robert G. Harrington atPalomar Observatory |
| Discovery date | 14 August 1953 |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | 2022-09-18 (JD 2459840.5) |
| Aphelion | 5.724AU (Q) |
| Perihelion | 1.6925 AU (q) |
| Semi-major axis | 3.708 AU (a) |
| Eccentricity | 0.5436 |
| Orbital period | 7.14yr |
| Inclination | 5.427° |
| Last perihelion | 2022-Oct-01[1][2] 12 August 2015[3] 18 June 2008 |
| Next perihelion | 2029-Nov-16(MPC)[1] |
51P/Harrington is aperiodiccomet in theSolar System.
It was discovered byRobert George Harrington atPalomar Observatory on 14 August 1953 using the Schmidt telescope. It then had a brightness of magnitude 15. In October 1956 its orbit was affected by the planet Jupiter and on its next return in 1960 the brightness had fallen to magnitude 20. By 1980 it had slightly improved to magnitude 18. It has a period of 7.1 years.
In 1987 and 1994 brightness had significantly increased to magnitude 12. In 1994Jim Scotti atKitt Peak Observatory observed that the comet had broken up and that two detached pieces were accompanying the main body, which explained the improvement in the brightness. By 2001 further splitting had occurred.
51P came toopposition on 25 August 2022 when it had asolar elongation of 168 degrees and was 0.73AU from Earth. It came toperihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 1 October 2022.[1]
| Fragment | Opposition | Perigee (Earth approach) | Perihelion (Sun approach) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51P-A[4] | 2022-08-23 @ 168.2° | 2022-09-03 @ 0.727au | 2022-10-03 @ 1.69 au[5] |
| 51P-D[6] | 2022-08-25 @ 167.9° | 2022-09-04 @ 0.720 au | 2022-10-01 @ 1.69 au |
| Numbered comets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous 50P/Arend | 51P/Harrington | Next 52P/Harrington–Abell |
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