260P/McNaught
Comet McNaught 4 photographed from the Zwicky Transient Facility on 3 October 2019 | |
| Discovery[1][2] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Robert H. McNaught |
| Discovery site | Siding Spring Observatory |
| Discovery date | 20 May 2005 |
| Designations | |
| P/2005 K3, P/2012 K2 | |
| McNaught 4 | |
| Orbital characteristics[4][5] | |
| Epoch | 9 August 2022 (JD 2459800.5) |
| Observation arc | 14.81 years |
| Number of observations | 6,792 |
| Aphelion | 5.831 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.415 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 3.623 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.60935 |
| Orbital period | 6.897 years |
| Inclination | 15.058° |
| 349.34° | |
| Argument of periapsis | 18.432° |
| Mean anomaly | 151.97° |
| Last perihelion | 10 September 2019 |
| Next perihelion | 5 August 2026[3] |
| TJupiter | 2.717 |
| Earth MOID | 0.495 AU |
| Jupiter MOID | 0.024 AU |
| Physical characteristics[6][7] | |
Mean radius | 1.54±0.09 km |
| 8.16±0.24 hours | |
| Comet total magnitude (M1) | 12.7 |
| Comet nuclear magnitude (M2) | 15.4 |
Comet McNaught 4, also known as 260P/McNaught, is a periodic comet with a 6.9-year orbit around the Sun. It is one of several comets discovered by Australian astronomer, Robert H. McNaught.
Observational history
On 20 May 2005, Robert H. McNaught found his fourth periodic comet (P/2005 K3) from the 0.5 m (1.6 ft) telescope of the Siding Spring Observatory,[1] where he reported it has a slightly diffuse head with a narrow tail about 30 arcseconds in length.[2]
It was later rediscovered in 15–18 May 2012 from the Pierre Auger Observatory as P/2012 K2,[8] which was later confirmed to be a recovery of comet McNaught 4 a few days later.[9]
During its 2019 apparition, a small outburst had temporarily brightened the comet from magnitude 13.78 to 13.59.[10]
Physical characteristics
Photometric analysis of the comet between August 2012 and January 2013 has determined that its nucleus rotates at a single axis, completing one stable rotation once every 0.34 ± 0.01 days (8.16 ± 0.240 hours).[6]
The nucleus itself has an effective radius of 1.54 ± 0.09 km (0.957 ± 0.056 mi).[7] However, near-infrared observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope found a smaller effective radius at around 0.322±0.04 km, indicating that it may have an elongated shape.[11]
References
- ^ a b R. H. McNaught (1 June 2005). B. G. Marsden (ed.). "Comet P/2005 K3 (McNaught)". Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams (161). Bibcode:2005CBET..161....1M.
- ^ a b R. H. McNaught (7 June 2005). D. W. Green (ed.). "Comet P/2005 K3 (McNaught)". IAU Circular (1). Bibcode:2005IAUC.8535....1M.
- ^ S. Yoshida (30 June 2021). "260P/McNaught". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "260P/McNaught – JPL Sma§ll-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "260P/McNaught Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ a b F. Manzini; V. Oldani; R. Crippa; J. Borrero; et al. (2014). "Comet McNaught (260P/2012 K2): spin axis orientation and rotation period". Astrophysics and Space Science. 351 (2): 435–450. arXiv:1403.5703. Bibcode:2014Ap&SS.351..435M. doi:10.1007/s10509-014-1854-6.
- ^ a b M. M. Knight; R. Kokotanekova; N. H. Samarasinha (2023). "Physical and Surface Properties of Comet Nuclei from Remote Observations". arXiv:2304.09309 [astro-ph.EP].
- ^ M. Masek; G. V. Williams (21 May 2012). "MPEC 2012-K37: Comet P/2005 K3 = 2012 K2 (McNaught)". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Minor Planet Center. Bibcode:2012MPEC....K...37M. ISSN 1523-6714. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ^ M. Masek; G. V. Williams; S. Nakano (May 2012). D. W. Green (ed.). "Comet P/2012 K2 = P/2005 K3 (McNaught)". Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams (3113). Bibcode:2012CBET.3113....1M.
- ^ M. S. P. Kelley; D. Bodewits; Q. Ye (8 October 2019). "Small outburst of comet 260P/McNaught". The Astronomer's Telegram. 13174. Bibcode:2019ATel13174....1K.
- ^ M. L. Paradowski (2020). "A new method of determining brightness and size of cometary nuclei". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 492 (3): 4175–4188. Bibcode:2020MNRAS.492.4175P. doi:10.1093/mnras/stz3597.
External links
- 260P/McNaught at the JPL Small-Body Database
- 260P/McNaught at Gideon van Buitenen's website