72P/Denning–Fujikawa

72P/Denning–Fujikawa is a periodic comet discovered on 4 October 1881 by William Frederick Denning.[3] The comet was not seen at another apparition until recovered by Shigehisa Fujikawa in 1978. From 29 December 1978 until 17 June 2014, the comet was lost. On 17 June 2014 the comet was recovered by Hidetaka Sato.[4] It was last observed in 2014.[1]

72P/Denning–Fujikawa
Discovery
Discovered byWilliam Frederick Denning
Discovery date4 October 1881
Orbital characteristics
Epoch2014-07-02
(JD 2456840.5)[1]
Aphelion7.884 AU (Q)
Perihelion0.7842 AU (q)
Semi-major axis4.334 AU (a)
Eccentricity0.8191
Orbital period9.02 yr
Inclination9.17°
Last perihelion2014-Jul-11[1]
2005-Jun-20[1]
Next perihelion2023-Jun-15[1]
2032-May-13[2]
Earth MOID0.085 AU (12,700,000 km)

Repeated failures to recover the comet during perihelion even in cases where it is estimated that it should have been magnitude 8 or, as in 1987 and 1996, it was being actively looked for suggest it is only occasionally active.[5] This has resulted in it being classified as a transitional comet.[5]

References
  1. "72P/Denning-Fujikawa Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  2. "Horizons Batch for 72P/Denning-Fujikawa (90000727) on 2032-May-13" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-04-29. (JPL#21/Soln.date: 2014-Nov-10)
  3. Kronk, Gary W. "72P/Denning-Fujikawa". Retrieved 2014-06-19. (Cometography Home Page)
  4. "MPEC 2014-M11 : COMET 72P/DENNING-FUJIKAWA". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2014-06-18. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  5. Beech, Martin (11 November 2001). "Comet 72P/Denning–Fujikawa: down but not necessarily out". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 327 (4): 1201–1207. Bibcode:2001MNRAS.327.1201B. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04822.x.


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