P/2011 NO1 (Elenin)
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by |
Leonid Elenin[1] 0.45-m reflector (H15)[2][3] |
| Discovery date | 7 July 2011[2] |
| Orbital characteristics A | |
| Epoch |
15 July 2011[4] (JD 2455757.5) |
| Aphelion | 9.8 AU (Q) |
| Perihelion | 1.24 AU (q) |
| Semi-major axis | 5.5 AU (a) |
| Eccentricity | 0.77 |
| Orbital period | 13 ± 0.16 yr |
| Inclination | 15° |
| Last perihelion | 20 January 2011[4] |
| Next perihelion | around January 2024[5] |
P/2011 NO1 (Elenin) is a periodic comet with a preliminary orbital period estimated at 13 ± 0.16 years.[4] It came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) around 20 January 2011 at 1.2 AU from the Sun.[4] The orbit is preliminary as it has only been observed over an observation-arc of 22 days.[4] The comet was discovered on 7 July 2011[2] when the comet was 2.38 AU from the Sun and 1.4 AU from the Earth. It came to opposition 178.6° from the Sun on 22 July 2011 in the constellation Sagittarius.
The preliminary orbit shows the next perihelion passage to be around January 2024.[5] An observation arc of 30 days would allow a better refinement to the orbit of this comet.
P/2011 NO1 was the second comet discovered by Leonid Elenin. The first comet discovered by Elenin was comet C/2010 X1. Both comets were discovered with the aid of the automatic detection program CoLiTec.[6]
On 29 January 2013 the Minor Planet Center awarded Leonid Elenin a 2012 Edgar Wilson Award for the discovery of comets by amateurs.[7]
References
- ↑ Sostero, Giovanni; Howes, Nick; Guido, Ernesto (19 July 2011). "New Comet: P/2011 NO1". Associazione Fruilana di Astronomia e Meteorologia. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- 1 2 3 "MPEC 2011-O09 : 2011 NO1". IAU Minor Planet Center. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- ↑ "MPEC 2011-O10 : COMET P/2011 NO1". IAU Minor Planet Center. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2011 NO1)" (last observation: 29 July 2011; arc: 22 days "preliminary"). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- 1 2 Horizons output. "Observer Table for 2011 NO1". Retrieved 19 July 2011. (Observer Location:@sun)
- ↑ "CoLiTec". Automatic Detection of Asteroids and Comets CoLiTec (CLT). Retrieved 2012-10-04.
- ↑ "2012 Comet Awards Announced". 29 January 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
- Elements and Ephemeris for P/2011 NO1 – Minor Planet Center
- Survey anniversary gift – a new comet is discovered! (Leonid Elenin – SpaceObs – 19 July 2011)
- New comet P/2011 NO1 (Luca Buzzi – 19 July 2011)
- New Comet: P/2011 NO1 (Remanzacco Observatory – 19 July 2011)
