7P/Pons–Winnecke

7P/Pons–Winnecke (also known as Comet Pons–Winnecke) is a periodic Jupiter-family comet with a six-year orbit. Early calculations for the 1921 apparition suggested that the orbit of the comet might collide with Earth in June, but observations on 10 April ruled out an impact.[1] It made a very close approach to Earth in June 1927.[7] The outward migration of perihelion created impressive meteor showers in 1916, 1921 and 1927.[8]

7P/Pons–Winnecke
Contemporary 1921 illustration of Pons–Winnecke comet[1]
Discovery
Discovered byJean Louis Pons &
Friedrich Winnecke
Discovery dateJune 12, 1819 &
March 9, 1858
Designations
1858 E1, 1858 II, 1819 III,
1927c, 1933b, 1939c,
1945a, 1951c, 1964b,
1970b, 1976f, 1983b,
1989g
Orbital characteristics
Epoch2021-07-05
Aphelion5.594 AU
Perihelion1.234 AU
Semi-major axis3.414 AU
Eccentricity0.6385
Orbital period6.31 yrs[2]
Inclination22.363°
Last perihelionMay 27, 2021[2]
January 30, 2015[3][4]
September 26, 2008
Next perihelion2027-Aug-25[5]
Earth MOID0.24 AU (36 million km)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions5.2 km[6]
Perihelion distance
at different epochs[2]
EpochPerihelion
(AU)
18190.77
18750.83
18860.89
18980.92
19090.97
19211.04
19331.10
19451.16

The next perihelion passage is 25 August 2027[5] when the comet will have a solar elongation of 63 degrees. The last perihelion passage was 27 May 2021 when the comet had a solar elongation of 107 degrees at approximately apparent magnitude 11.[3] It passed 0.44 AU (66 million km) from Earth on 12 June 2021. Before that it came to perihelion on 30 January 2015[3] with a solar elongation of 24 degrees.[9]

Jean Louis Pons (Marseille) originally discovered the comet on 12 June 1819, it was later rediscovered by Friedrich August Theodor Winnecke (Bonn) on 9 March 1858. It is the parent body of the June Bootids of late June.

7P has an orbital period of 6.37 years. It has a perihelion of 1.3 AU and an aphelion of 5.6 AU (past the orbit of Jupiter). It passed within 0.04 AU (6.0 million km; 16 LD) of Earth in June 1927, and 0.1 AU (15 million km) in 1939;[10] but it will not come as close in the 21st century. A close approach to Jupiter in July 2037[10] will drop perihelion back to 0.982 AU.

The comet nucleus is estimated at about 5.2 km in diameter.[6]

Proposed exploration

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory proposed a flyby of the comet with a flight spare of Mariner 4 with the closest approach taking place in 1969.[11] The probe was instead used for a Venus flyby as Mariner 5.[11]

References
  1. Popular Science July 1921
  2. "7P/Pons-Winnecke". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  3. Seiichi Yoshida (2013-12-14). "7P/Pons-Winnecke". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  4. Patrick Rocher (2008-12-23). "Note number : 0039 P/Pons-Winnecke : 7P". Institut de mécanique céleste et de calcul des éphémérides. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  5. "Horizons Batch for 7P/Pons-Winnecke (90000167) on 2027-Aug-25" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Retrieved 2022-06-15. (JPL#24/Soln.date: 2021-Dec-20)
  6. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 7P/Pons-Winnecke" (last observation:2014-03-28). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  7. "Record Close Comet Distances from Earth".
  8. Kronk, Gary W. "7P/Pons-Winnecker". Retrieved 2019-03-05. (Cometography Home Page)
  9. "Elements and Ephemeris for 7P/Pons-Winnecke". Minor Planet Center. Archived from the original on 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2014-10-29. (0007P)
  10. "JPL Close-Approach Data: 7P/Pons-Winnecke" (last observation: 2014-03-28). Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  11. 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.
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