 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh |
| Discovery date | August 19, 1977 |
| Designations | |
| 1978 IV; 1992 II | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | January 21, 2022[1] |
| Aphelion | 9.266 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.344 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 5.805 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.5962 |
| Orbital period | 13.99 yr (5109 days)[1] (5130 days for 101P-B)[2] |
| Inclination | 5.052° |
| Last perihelion | January 12, 2020 (A)[1] January 31, 2020 (B)[3] December 25, 2005 (A)[4] December 24, 2005 (B)[5] |
| Next perihelion | 2034-Jan-10 (A) (Horizons) 2034-Feb-21 (B) (Horizons)[6] |
101P/Chernykh[7] is a periodic comet which was first discovered on August 19, 1977, by Nikolaj Stepanovich Chernykh.[8] It will next come to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) in 2034.
In 1991, 101P/Chernykh was observed to split. Zdenek Sekanina, from JPL, concluded that the comet split in April 1991, when 3.3 AU from the Sun.[9]
The primary nucleus is 5.6 km (3.5 mi) in diameter and was last observed in 2022.[10] Fragment B has not been observed since 2006.[5] As of epoch 2022, fragment B takes 21 days longer to orbit the Sun.[2]
| Year | Horizons difference |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 day |
| 2020 | 18 days |
| 2034 | 43 days |
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