26P/Grigg–Skjellerup
Periodic comet with 5 year orbit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Comet Grigg-Skjellerup?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
SHOW ALL QUESTIONS
Comet Grigg–Skjellerup (formally designated 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup) is a periodic comet. It was visited by the Giotto probe in July 1992.[6] The spacecraft came as close as 200 km, but could not take pictures because some instruments were damaged from its encounter with Halley's Comet.[7] The comet next came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 25 December 2023,[2][1][4] but was 1.8 AU from Earth and only 31 degrees from the Sun.[1]
Quick Facts Discovery, Discovered by ...
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | John Grigg and John Francis Skjellerup |
Discovery date | 1902 and 1922 |
Designations | |
1808 C1; 1808 III; 1902 O1; 1902 II; 1902c; 1922 K1; 1922 I; 1922b; 1927 F1; 1927 V; 1927e; 1932 II; 1932d; 1937 III; 1937e; 1942 V; 1942d; 1947 II; 1947a; 1952 IV; 1952b; 1957 I; 1956i; 1961 IX; 1961g; 1967 I; 1966f; 1972 II; 1972b; 1977 VI; 1977b; 1982 IV; 1982a; 1987 X; 1986m; 1992 XVIII | |
Orbital characteristics | |
Epoch | 2023-02-25 (JD 2460000.5) |
Aphelion | 4.947 AU |
Perihelion | 1.0840 AU |
Semi-major axis | 3.015 AU |
Eccentricity | 0.6405 |
Orbital period | 5.23 yr |
Max. orbital speed | 36.6 km/s @ perihelion[1] |
Inclination | 22.43° |
Last perihelion | October 1, 2018[2] July 6, 2013[3] March 23, 2008 |
Next perihelion | 2023-Dec-25[2][1][4] |
Earth MOID | 0.1 AU (15 million km)[5] |
Close