C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Siding Spring Observatory 0.5-m Schmidt (E12)[1] |
| Discovery date | 3 January 2013[1] |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | 2013-Jan-06 (JD 2456298.5)[2] |
| Perihelion | 1.396 AU (q) |
| Eccentricity | 1.00038 |
| Inclination | 128.9° |
| Next perihelion | 25 October 2014 |
C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) is an Oort cloud comet discovered on 3 January 2013 by Robert H. McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory using a 0.5-meter (20 in) Schmidt telescope.[1] Precovery images of the comet by the Catalina Sky Survey from 8 December 2012 were quickly found.[1] At the time of discovery the comet was 7.2 AU from the Sun.
Mars impact risk
With an observation arc of 74 days,[2] there is a small possibility that the comet could impact Mars on 19 October 2014.[2] But the nominal pass is 0.0007 AU (100,000 km; 65,000 mi) from the center-point of Mars.[2] Due to the uncertainty region, there is a small possibility that the comet will pass Mars as far away as 0.0079 AU (1,180,000 km; 730,000 mi).[2] The comet will pass Mars at a relative velocity of 56 km/s.[2] The diameter of an impact crater would be roughly ten times the diameter of the comet's nucleus.[citation needed] Preliminary estimates for the diameter of the nucleus are 8[3][better source needed] to 50 km.[4]
| Observation arc (in days) |
Minimum distance (AU) |
Nominal distance (AU) |
Maximum distance (AU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 0 | 0.005 | 0.02 |
| 58 | 0 | 0.0025 | 0.012 |
| 74 | 0 | 0.0007 | 0.0079 |
References
- ^ a b c d "MPEC 2013-A14 : COMET C/2013 A1 (SIDING SPRING)". IAU Minor Planet Center. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013. (CK13A010)
- ^ a b c d e f "JPL Close-Approach Data: C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)". 2013-02-20 last obs (arc=74 days w/134 obs). Retrieved 2013-02-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Charles Bell (26 February 2013). "Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring)". Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- ^ Leonid Elenin (February 25th, 2013). "Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) – a possible collision with Mars". SpaceObs.org blog (ISON-NM). Retrieved 2013-02-27.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
- C/2013 A1 ( Siding Spring ) – Seiichi Yoshida @ aerith.net
- Elements and Ephemeris for C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) – Minor Planet Center
- Will Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) Hit Mars? – Ian Musgrave (February 02, 2013)
- Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) – a possible collision with Mars – Leonid Elenin (February 25th, 2013)
- Update on Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) and a possible Mars Impact – Ian Musgrave (February 27, 2013)
- C/2013 A1 Siding Spring, the first comet of the year – La Cañada Observatory (January 5, 2013)
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