64P/Swift–Gehrels

< 64P

64P/Swift-Gehrels
Comet Swift–Gehrels photographed by Alexander Vasenin from Moscow, Russia on 11 October 2018
Discovery
Discovered byLewis A. Swift
Tom Gehrels
Discovery date17 November 1889
8 February 1973
Designations
P/1889 W1
P/1973 C1
Swift 1
1889f, 1973d, 1981j, 1991c
1889 VI, 1972 VII, 1981 XIX, 1991 II
Orbital characteristics
Epoch9 December 2017 (JD 2458096.5)
Observation arc6,707 days (18.36 years)
Number of
observations
3,436
Aphelion7.518 AU
Perihelion1.393 AU
Semi-major axis4.456 AU
Eccentricity0.687
Orbital period9.407 years
Inclination8.948°
300.00°
Argument of
periapsis
97.144°
Last perihelion3 November 2018
Next perihelion31 March 2028
TJupiter2.496
Earth MOID0.4401 AU
Jupiter MOID0.6491 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.2 km (2.0 mi)
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
14.5
9.0
(2018 apparition)

64P/Swift–Gehrels is a periodic comet in the Solar System which has a current orbital period of 9.23 years.