 Comet Shoemaker 3 photographed from the Zwicky Transient Facility on 25 November 2019 | |
| Discovery1 | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Carolyn S. Shoemaker Eugene M. Shoemaker |
| Discovery site | Palomar Observatory |
| Discovery date | 10 January 1986 |
| Designations | |
| P/1986 A1; P/2002 R2 | |
| 1986a; 1985 XVIII2 Shoemaker 3 | |
| Orbital characteristics45 | |
| Epoch | 21 May 2011 (JD 2455702.5) |
| Observation arc | 12,550 days (34.36 years) |
| Number of observations | 1,966 |
| Aphelion | 11.38 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.806 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 6.594 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.72611 |
| Orbital period | 16.93 years |
| Inclination | 6.398° |
| 97.276° | |
| Argument of periapsis | 14.602° |
| Last perihelion | 15 November 2019 |
| Next perihelion | 22 September 20363 |
| TJupiter | 2.328 |
| Earth MOID | 0.825 AU |
| Jupiter MOID | 0.302 AU |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Comet total magnitude (M1) | 10.0 |
| 14.89 (2019 apparition) | |
Comet Shoemaker 3, also known as 155P/Shoemaker, is a periodic comet with a 17-year-long orbit around the Sun. It is one of 32 comets discovered by American astronomers, Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker.
Observational history
The comet was discovered from the Palomar Observatory on the night of 10 January 1986.6 The Shoemakers' discovery was confirmed by Brian A. Skiff from the Lowell Observatory two days later.1
A series of possible outbursts occurred from the comet in October 2019, which has raised its maximum brightness to 14.89 during its most recent perihelion.7
References
References
- B. G. Marsden (17 January 1986). "Comet Shoemaker (1986a)". International Astronomical Union Circular. 4165.
- "Comet Names and Designations". International Comet Quarterly. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- "Horizons Batch for 155P/Shoemaker 3 (90001031) on 2036-Sep-22" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Retrieved 16 April 2026. (JPL#53 Soln.date: 2022-Dec-31)
- "155P/Shoemaker – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- S. Yoshida. "155P/Shoemaker". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- G. W. Kronk. "155P/Shoemaker". Cometography.com. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- D. Bodewits; M. S. P. Kelley; B. Bolin, Bryce; et al. (17 October 2019). "Outburst of 155P/Shoemaker 3". The Astronomer's Telegram. 13199. Bibcode:2019ATel13199....1B.