94P/Russell

94P/Russell 4 is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with (TJupiter > 3; a < aJupiter).[1] It was discovered by Ken Rusell[1] on photographic plates taken by M. Hawkins on March 7, 1984.[5] In the discovery images, Russell estimated that the comet had an apparent magnitude of 13 and a noticeable tail of 5 arc minutes.[5] In the year of discovery, the comet had come to perihelion in January 1984.[3]

94P/Russell 4
94P (apmag ~17; 2.2AU from the Sun)
Discovery
Discovered byK. S. Russel[1]
Discovery dateMarch 7, 1984
Designations
1984 I;1990 XI
Orbital characteristics
EpochOctober 1, 2009
Aphelion4.793 AU (Q)
Perihelion2.240 AU (q)
Semi-major axis3.517 AU (a)
Eccentricity0.3630
Orbital period6.60 yr
Inclination6.182°
Last perihelion2023-May-21[2]
October 27, 2016[2]
March 29, 2010[1][3]
August 29, 2003[3]
Next perihelion2029-Dec-17[4]

With an aphelion (furthest distance from the Sun) of 4.7 AU,[1] comet 94P currently has an orbit contained completely inside of the orbit of Jupiter.

In July 1995, 94P was estimated to have a radius of about 2.6 km with an absolute magnitude (H) of 15.1.[6] It may have a very elongated nucleus with an axial ratio of a/b >= 3.[6]

References
  1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 94P/Russell 4" (last observation: 2009-12-25). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  2. "94P/Russell Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  3. Seiichi Yoshida (2008-10-25). "94P/Russell 4". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  4. "Horizons Batch for 94P/Russell 4 (90000915) on 2029-Dec-17" (Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive). JPL Horizons. Retrieved 2023-04-29. (JPL#74/Soln.date: 2023-Jul-05)
  5. Kronk, Gary W. "94P/Russell 4". Retrieved 2010-02-19. (Cometography Home Page)
  6. Snodgrass, Colin; Lowry, Stephen C.; Fitzsimmons, Alan (2007). "Optical observations of 23 distant Jupiter Family Comets, including 36P/Whipple at multiple phase angles". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 385 (2): 737–756. arXiv:0712.4204. Bibcode:2008MNRAS.385..737S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.12900.x. S2CID 55536237.
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