39P/Oterma
< 39P
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Liisi Oterma |
| Discovery date | 8 April 1943 |
| Designations | |
| 1942 VII; 1950 III; 1958 IV; 39P/2001 P3 | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | 2023-06-25 |
| Aphelion | 8.75 AU |
| Perihelion | 5.707 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 7.228 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.2105 |
| Orbital period | 19.43 yr |
| Max. orbital speed | 13.2 km/s |
| Min. orbital speed | 8.6 km/s (2013-Feb-15) |
| Inclination | 1.5470° |
| Last perihelion | 2023-Jul-13 (JPL) 11 July 2023 22 December 2002 |
| Next perihelion | 2042-Jul-12 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 4–5 km |
39P/Oterma is a currently inactive periodic comet with an orbital period of nearly 20 years that stays outside the orbit of Jupiter. The nucleus has a diameter around 4–5 km. It was last observed in August 2021 and came to perihelion in July 2023 while 1.2 AU from Jupiter. It made a moderately close approach to Jupiter in January 2025 and will next come to perihelion in July 2042 at distance of 5.9 AU from the Sun. Opposition has occurred on 11 November 2023.