10P/Tempel
Comet Tempel 2 1988 V-band.jpg
Comet Tempel 2 on May 4, 1988 from the 2.2 m telescope at ESO La Silla
Discovery
Discovered byErnst Wilhelm Leberecht Tempel[1]
Discovery dateJuly 4, 1873
Designations
1873 II; 1878 III; 1894 III;
1899 IV; 1904 III; 1915 I;
1920 II; 1925 IV; 1930 VII;
1946 III; 1951 VIII; 1957 II;
1962 VI; 1967 X; 1972 X;
1978 V; 1983 X; 1988 XIV;
1994 VII;
Orbital characteristics
EpochDecember 4, 2015
(JD 2457360.5)
Aphelion4.711 AU
Perihelion1.4176 AU
Semi-major axis3.064 AU
Eccentricity0.53736
Orbital period5.36 yr
Inclination12.028°
Last perihelion24 March 2021[2]
14 November 2015[2][3]
4 July 2010[4][5]
Next perihelion2026-Aug-02[2][6]
Earth MOID0.41 AU (61 million km)
Physical characteristics

10P/Tempel, also known as Tempel 2, is a periodic Jupiter-family comet with a 5 year orbital period. It was discovered on July 4, 1873 by Wilhelm Tempel.[7] The next perihelion passage is 24 March 2021 when the comet will have a solar elongation of 30 degrees at approximately apparent magnitude 11.[4] Closest approach to Earth during the 2021 passage did not occur until many months later on 3 November 2021 at a distance of 1.6 AU (240 million km).[8]

The comet nucleus is estimated to be roughly the size of Halley's Comet at 10.6 kilometers in diameter with a low albedo of 0.022.[1] The nucleus is dark because hydrocarbons on the surface have been converted to a dark, tar like substance by solar ultraviolet radiation. The nucleus is large enough that even near aphelion (furthest distance from the Sun which is near the orbit of Jupiter) the comet remains brighter than about magnitude 21.

Comet Tempel II during the 1925 apparition.
Comet Tempel II during the 1925 apparition.

During the 2010 apparition the comet brightened to about apparent magnitude 8.[4] The most favorable apparition of 10P/Tempel 2 was in 1925 when it came within 0.35 AU (52 million km; 33 million mi) of Earth with an apparent magnitude of 6.5.[7] On August 3, 2026, comet Tempel 2 will have another close pass within about 0.41 AU (61 million km; 38 million mi) of Earth.[1]

Proposed exploration

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory proposed a flyby of the comet with a flight spare of Mariner 4.[9] The probe was instead used for a venus flyby as Mariner 5.[9]


References

  1. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 10P/Tempel 2" (last observation: 2014-03-29; arc: 67.91 years). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. ^ a b c "10P/Tempel Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-11-06.
  3. ^ 10P at Kazuo Kinoshita home page
  4. ^ a b c Seiichi Yoshida (2008-01-27). "10P/Tempel 2". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  5. ^ Syuichi Nakano (2007-04-10). "10P/Tempel 2 (NK 1460)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  6. ^ "Horizons Batch for 10P/Tempel 2 (90000213) on 2026-Aug-02" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Retrieved 2022-06-27. (JPL#K214/33 Soln.date: 2022-May-02)
  7. ^ a b Kronk, Gary W. "10P/Tempel 2". Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24. (Cometography Home Page)
  8. ^ JPL Horizons closest approach to Earth
    Goto JPL Horizons
    Ephemeris Type: Observer
    Observer Location: 500 (Geocentric)
    (Closest approach occurs when deldot flips from negative to positive)
  9. ^ a b Ulivi, Paolo; Harland, David M (2007). Robotic Exploration of the Solar System Part I: The Golden Age 1957-1982. Springer. p. 57-58. ISBN 9780387493268.

External links

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