C/2011 J2 (LINEAR)

C/2011 J2 (LINEAR) is an Oort cloud comet discovered on 4 May 2011 by LINEAR at an apparent magnitude of 19.7 using a 1-meter (39 in) Reflecting telescope.[1][2] As of September 2014 the comet is around apparent magnitude 17.[3]

C/2011 J2 (LINEAR)
Discovery
Discovered byLINEAR (704)[1][2]
Discovery date4 May 2011
Orbital characteristics
Epoch14 December 2013[3]
Orbit typeOort cloud
Aphelion~50000 AU (inbound)[4]
Perihelion3.4434 AU (q)[3]
Eccentricity1.00051[3]
Orbital periodseveral million years inbound (Barycentric solution for epoch 1950)[4]
Ejection trajectory outbound
(Barycentric solution for epoch 2050)[4]
Inclination122.79°[3]
Last perihelion25 December 2013[3]
Jupiter MOID0.55 AU

C/2011 J2 came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 25 December 2013 at a distance of 3.4 AU from the Sun.[3] On 27 August 2014 an 18th magnitude fragment CK11J02b was detected.[3] Preliminary estimates are that a fragmentation event occurred around 14 July 2014 plus/minus ten days.[5] In mid-July 2014 the comet was 3.9 AU from the Sun.

Fragment C was detected in October 2014 by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes, and Martino Nicolini.[6]

C/2011 J2 is dynamically new. It came from the Oort cloud with a loosely bound chaotic orbit that was easily perturbed by galactic tides and passing stars. Before entering the planetary region (epoch 1950), C/2011 J2 had an orbital period of several million years.[4] After leaving the planetary region (epoch 2050), it will be on an ejection trajectory.[4]

References
  1. "MPEC 2011-J31 : COMET C/2011 J2 (LINEAR)". IAU Minor Planet Center. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2014. (CK11J020)
  2. Giovanni Sostero & Ernesto Guido (12 July 2011). "New Comet: C/2011 J2 (LINEAR)". Remanzacco. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  3. "MPEC 2014-R69 : Observations and Orbits of Comets". IAU Minor Planet Center. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  4. Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2011 J2 (LINEAR)". Retrieved 18 September 2014. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  5. "Re: {MPML} C/2011 J2 LINEAR Nucleus splitting". 17 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  6. Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini (13 October 2011). "New fragmentation event in C/2011 J2 (LINEAR)". Remanzacco. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
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