Jump to content

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
KDS4444 (talk | contribs)
17,241 edits
color
Myrabella (talk | contribs)
926 edits
→top: image caption
Line 5: Line 5:
| image=[[File:C2014 Q2.jpg|200px]]
| image=[[File:C2014 Q2.jpg|200px]]
| credit =John Vermette
| credit =John Vermette
| caption=C/2014 Q2 as imaged 31 January 2015
| caption=C/2014 Q2 as imaged 19 January 2015<ref>''Sky and Telescope'', Photo gallery, [http://www.skyandtelescope.com/online-gallery/comet-lovejoy-15/ Comet Lovejoy]</ref>
| discoverer=[[Terry Lovejoy]]<br/>0.2-m [[Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope|Schmidt]] (Q80)<ref name="MPEC2014-Q10"/>
| discoverer=[[Terry Lovejoy]]<br/>0.2-m [[Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope|Schmidt]] (Q80)<ref name="MPEC2014-Q10"/>
| discovery_date=17 August 2014
| discovery_date=17 August 2014

Revision as of 17:37, 15 March 2015

For other comets discovered by Terry Lovejoy, see Comet Lovejoy.

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)
C/2014 Q2 as imaged 19 January 2015[1]
Discovery
Discovered byTerry Lovejoy
0.2-m Schmidt (Q80)[2]
Discovery date17 August 2014
Orbital characteristics
Epoch18 January 2015[3]
Perihelion1.29077 AU (q)[3]
Eccentricity0.99811[3]
Orbital period~11000 years inbound (Barycentric solution for epoch 1950)[4]
~8000 years outbound
(Barycentric solution for epoch 2050)[4]
Inclination80.301°[3]
Last perihelion30 January 2015[3]

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is a long-period comet discovered on 17 August 2014 by Terry Lovejoy using a 0.2-meter (8 in) Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope.[2] It was discovered at apparent magnitude 15 in the southern constellation of Puppis.[2] It is the fifth comet discovered by Terry Lovejoy. Its blue-green color is the result of cyanogen and diatomic carbon being burned off the comet as it passes through space.

By December 2014, the comet had brightened to roughly magnitude 7.4,[5] making it a small telescope and binoculars target. By mid-December, the comet was visible to the naked eye for experienced observers with dark skies and keen eyesight.[6] On 28−29 December 2014, the comet passed 1/3° from globular cluster Messier 79.[7] In January 2015, it brightened to roughly magnitude 4,[8] and became one of the brightest comets located high in a dark sky in years. On 7 January 2015, the comet passed 0.469 AU (70,200,000 km; 43,600,000 mi) from Earth.[9] It crossed the celestial equator on 9 January 2015 becoming better seen from the northern hemisphere.[10] The comet came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 30 January 2015 at a distance of 1.29 AU (193,000,000 km; 120,000,000 mi) from the Sun.[3]

Before entering the planetary region (epoch 1950), C/2014 Q2 had an orbital period of about 11000 years.[4] After leaving the planetary region (epoch 2050), it will have an orbital period of about 8000 years.[4]

  • C/2014 Q2 seen passing through Lepus, 29 December 2014
    C/2014 Q2 seen passing through Lepus, 29 December 2014
  • C/2014 Q2, 17 January 2015, with an 8" Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope
    C/2014 Q2, 17 January 2015, with an 8" Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope
  • C/2014 Q2 and the Pleiades star cluster, 19 January 2015, with a DSLR
    C/2014 Q2 and the Pleiades star cluster, 19 January 2015, with a DSLR

References

  1. ^ Sky and Telescope, Photo gallery, Comet Lovejoy
  2. ^ a b c "MPEC 2014-Q10 : COMET C/2014 Q2 (LOVEJOY)". IAU Minor Planet Center. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014. (CK14Q020)
  3. ^ a b c d e f "MPEC 2014-R69 : Observations and Orbits of Comets". IAU Minor Planet Center. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d Horizons output. "Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elements for Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)". Retrieved 5 January 2015. (Solution using the Solar System Barycenter and barycentric coordinates. Select Ephemeris Type:Elements and Center:@0)
  5. ^ Yoshida, Seiichi (7 December 2014). "Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2014 Dec. 6: South)". aerith.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  6. ^ Alan MacRobert (15 December 2014). "Binocular Comet Lovejoy Heading Our Way". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  7. ^ Bob King (8 December 2014). "C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy – A Binocular Comet in Time for Christmas". Universe Today. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  8. ^ Seiichi Yoshida (14 September 2014). "C/2014 Q2 ( Lovejoy )". Seiichi Yoshida's Comet Catalog. Retrieved 14 September 2013. (September 2014 archive)
  9. ^ "JPL Close-Approach Data: C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)" (last observation: 2014-10-02; arc: 93 days). Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Elements and Ephemeris for C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 October 2014. (CK14Q020)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=C/2014_Q2_(Lovejoy)&oldid=651507809"