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C/1927 X1 (Skjellerup–Maristany)

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C/1927 X1 (Skjellerup–Maristany)
(Great Comet of 1927)
Drawing of Comet Skjellerup–Maristany by Vesto Slipher on 17 December 1927
Discovery
Discovered byJohn Francis Skjellerup
Edmundo Maristany
Discovery date6 December 1927
Designations
1927 IX, 1927 X1[1]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch26 December 1927 (JD 2425240.5)
Aphelion2,202 AU
Perihelion0.1761 AU
Semi-major axis1,101 AU
Eccentricity0.9998
Orbital period~36,600 years
Inclination85.1°
Last perihelion18 December 1927
Physical characteristics[3]
Mean radius
1.67 km (1.04 mi)[a]
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		5.2
–0.5
(1927 apparition)

Comet Skjellerup–Maristany, formally designated C/1927 X1, 1927 IX, and 1927k, was a long-period comet which became very bright in 1927. This great comet was observable to the naked eye for about 32 days.[4]

Observational history

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It was independently discovered by amateur astronomers John Francis Skjellerup in Australia on 28 November 1927 and Edmundo Maristany in Argentina on 6 December 1927, and noted for its strong yellow appearance and the detection of emission from sodium atoms.[5]

The comet was already visible with the naked eye upon discovery and was moving towards the Sun. On 3 December its apparent magnitude was reported to be +3 and its tail was 3 degrees long.[6] Forward scattering of light on 15–16 December 1927 allowed the comet to be seen during daylight if the observer blocked the Sun,[7] C/1927 X1 passed only 1.4° from the Sun on 15 December 1927.[8] It was reported many times brighter than Venus on December 16, so bright that it could be measured spectrographically in daylight. On 17.9 December the magnitude of the comet was reported to be -2. The comet passed perihelion 18 December and was located 10 degrees away from the Sun.[9] After perihelion the comet stayed in the morning twilight for several weeks as it faded.[6] George van Biesbroeck reported that the comet could no longer be detected with certainty without optical aid on 23 December.[9] A long but faint tail up to 40 degrees was visible in the sky between 29 December and 2 January.[6]

Comet Skjellerup–Maristany has been more than 105 AU (15.7 billion km) from the Sun since 2010. It was mentioned in J. R. R. Tolkien's book Letters From Father Christmas.

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Calculated mean radius using the formula: [3]
    Where is the comet's absolute total magnitude (M1)

Citations

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  1. ^ "Comet Names and Designations". International Comet Quarterly. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  2. ^ "C/1927 X1 (Skjellerup–Maristany) – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b J. A. Fernández; A. Sosa (2012). "Magnitude and size distribution of long-period comets in Earth-crossing or approaching orbits". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 423 (2): 1674–1690. arXiv:1204.2285. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.20989.x.
  4. ^ D. K. Yeomans. "Great Comets of History". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  5. ^ Adel, Arthur; Slipher, V. M.; Ladenburg, R. (November 1937). "The Sodium Content of the Head of the Great Daylight Comet Skjellerup 1927 K.". The Astrophysical Journal. 86: 345. doi:10.1086/143873.
  6. ^ a b c J. E. Bortle (1998). "The Bright Comet Chronicles". International Comet Quarterly. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  7. ^ Marcus, Joseph N. (October 2007). "Forward-Scattering Enhancement of Comet Brightness. II. The Light Curve of C/2006 P1" (PDF). International Comet Quarterly. pp. 119–130.
  8. ^ Horizons output. "Observer Table for Comet C/1927 X1 (Skjellerup-Maristany)". Retrieved 2011-08-07. (Observer Location:Geocentric [500])
  9. ^ a b van Biesbroeck, G. (1 January 1928). "Comet notes: Comet 1927 k (Skjellerup)". Popular Astronomy. 36: 67. ISSN 0197-7482.
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