C/1991 L3 (Levy)

< C
C/1991 L3 (Levy)
Discovery
Discovered byDavid H. Levy
Discovery siteTucson, Arizona
Discovery date14 June 1991
Designations
1991q, 1991 XI
Orbital characteristics
Epoch29 December 1991 (JD 2448619.5)
Observation arc587 days
Number of
observations
136
Aphelion26.643 AU
Perihelion0.9827 AU
Semi-major axis13.813 AU
Eccentricity0.9289
Orbital period51.34 years
Inclination19.190°
329.432°
Argument of
periapsis
41.479°
Last perihelion8 July 1991
Next perihelion30 October 2042
TJupiter1.517
Earth MOID0.075 AU
Jupiter MOID0.050 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions< 16.4 km (10.2 mi)
11.6±0.2 km
8.34 hours
0.04 (assumed)
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
8.9
7.5
(1991 apparition)

C/1991 L3 (Levy) is a periodic comet discovered by David H. Levy on 14 June 1991. The comet has an orbital period of 51 years and thus fits the definition of Halley-type comets, which have orbital periods between 20 and 200 years.