22P/Kopff

< 22P
22P/Kopff
14" reflector imaged on 2009-06-27
Discovery
Discovered byAugust Kopff
Discovery siteKönigstuhl Observatory
Discovery date23 August 1906
Designations
P/1906 Q1
P/1919 O1
  • 1906 IV, 1919 I
  • 1926 II, 1932 III
  • 1939 II, 1945 V
  • 1951 VII, 1958 I
  • 1964 III, 1970 XI
  • 1977 V, 1983 XIII
  • 1990 I
Orbital characteristics
Epoch31 March 2024 (JD 2460400.5)
Observation arc117.63 years
Number of
observations
6,335
Aphelion5.323 AU
Perihelion1.541 AU
Semi-major axis3.432 AU
Eccentricity0.55104
Orbital period6.357 years
Inclination4.753°
120.58°
Argument of
periapsis
162.92°
Mean anomaly115.26°
Last perihelion18 March 2022
Next perihelion28 June 2028
TJupiter2.866
Earth MOID0.539 AU
Jupiter MOID0.079 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.0 km (1.9 mi)
12.3±0.8 hours
0.05
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
11.9

Comet Kopff or 22P/Kopff is a periodic comet in the Solar System. Discovered on August 23, 1906, it was named after August Kopff who discovered the comet. The comet was missed on its November 1912 return, but was recovered on its June 1919 return and has been seen at every apparition since. Close approaches to Jupiter in 1938 and 1943 decreased the perihelion distance and orbital period. 22P/Kopff’s last perihelion passage was 18 March 2022. On 13 July 2028 it will pass 0.353 AU (52.8 million km) from Earth.