38P/Stephan–Oterma

38P/Stephan–Oterma

Discovery
Discovered by	Coggia, Jerome E.
Discovery date	January 22, 1867
Alternative designations	P/1980 L2, P/1942 V1, P/1867 B1, 38P
Orbital characteristics ^A
Epoch	1981-Apr-26 (JD 2444720.5)[1]
Aphelion	20.920 AU (near Uranus)
Perihelion	1.5744 AU (near Mars)
Semi-major axis	11.247 AU
Eccentricity	0.86002
Orbital period	37.72 yr
Inclination	17.981°
Last perihelion	December 5, 1980[1][2]
Next perihelion	November 10, 2018[2]

38P/Stephan–Oterma (also known as Comet Stephan–Oterma) is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 38 years. It fits the classical definition of a Halley-type comet with (20 years < period < 200 years).^[1] It was discovered in January 1867, by Jérôme Eugène Coggia at Marseilles Observatory, France.^[1]

Orbit

It has perihelion near the orbit of Mars and has aphelion near the orbit of Uranus. Acting like a centaur-hybrid, between the years 1982 and 2067, this object will make close approaches to the giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus.^[3] If this object did not have a coma and (for some definitions) had a perihelion beyond Jupiter's (5 AU), it would be considered a centaur.

Comet 38P passing within 1.6AU of Uranus in 2067.^[3]

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 38P/Stephan-Oterma" (last observation: 1981-04-04; arc: 114.18 years). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
2. Seiichi Yoshida (2004-07-31). "38P/Stephan-Oterma". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
3. "JPL Close-Approach Data: 38P/Stephan-Oterma" (last observation: 1981-04-04; arc: 114.18 years). Retrieved 2009-05-07.

External links

• Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Ephemeris
• Gary W. Kronk's Cometography page for 38P