73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann

SW3 Component C, 19 APR 2006 from Mt Laguna.
Discovery
Discovered by:	Arnold Schwassmann Arno Arthur Wachmann
Discovery date:	May 2, 1930
Alternate designations:	1930 VI; 1979 VIII; 1990 VIII; 1994w
Orbital characteristics A
Epoch:	March 6, 2006
Aphelion distance:	5.187 AU
Perihelion distance:	0.9391 AU
Semi-major axis:	3.063 AU
Eccentricity:	0.6934
Orbital period:	5.36 a
Inclination:	11.3907°
Last perihelion:	June 6, 2006

73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, also known as Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, is a periodic comet in our solar system which is in the process of disintegrating. Image File history File linksMetadata 06-0419_sw3_fal_martinez_vcastro. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 06-0419_sw3_fal_martinez_vcastro. ... Friedrich Karl Arnold Schwassmann (March 25, 1870 – January 19, 1964) was a German astronomer). ... Arno Arthur Wachmann (March 8, 1902 – July 24, 1990) was a German astronomer. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Provisional designation of in astronomy is the naming convention applied to astronomical objects immediately following their discovery. ... In astronomy, an epoch is a moment in time for which celestial coordinates or orbital elements are specified. ... March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article is about several astronomical terms (apogee & perigee, aphelion & perihelion, generic equivalents based on apsis, and related but rarer terms. ... This article is about several astronomical terms (apogee & perigee, aphelion & perihelion, generic equivalents based on apsis, and related but rarer terms. ... The semi-major axis of an ellipse In geometry, the term semi-major axis (also semimajor axis) is used to describe the dimensions of ellipses and hyperbolae. ... The astronomical unit (AU or au or a. ... In astrodynamics, under standard assumptions any orbit must be of conic section shape. ... The orbital period is the time it takes a planet (or another object) to make one full orbit. ... In astronomy, a Julian year is a unit of time defined as exactly 365. ... Inclination in general is the angle between a reference plane and another plane or axis of direction. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining // 1508 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year truce and cede several territories to Venice 1513... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Comet Hale-Bopp Comet McNaught as seen from Swifts Creek, Victoria, Australia on 23 January 2007 A comet is a small body in the solar system that orbits the Sun and (at least occasionally) exhibits a coma (or atmosphere) and/or a tail â€” both primarily from the effects of... Major features of the Solar System (not to scale, from left to right): Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, a comet, Jupiter, Ceres which lies in the asteroid belt, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth & Moon, and Mars. ...

Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, one of the comets discovered by astronomers by Arnold Schwassmann and Arno Arthur Wachmann, working at the Hamburg Observatory in Bergedorf, Germany [1], broke into fragments on its re-entry to the inner solar system, May 1 2006, in a reaction triggered by the sun's heating the comet as it emerged from the frozen space of the outer solar system. Friedrich Karl Arnold Schwassmann (March 25, 1870 – January 19, 1964) was a German astronomer). ... Arno Arthur Wachmann (March 8, 1902 – July 24, 1990) was a German astronomer. ...

The comet's initial discovery was serendipity: the astronomers were exposing photographic plates in search of a minor planet, on photographs exposed for a minor planet survey, on May 2 1930. The comet was lost after its 1930 apparition, but was observed several more times.

73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann has an orbital period of slightly less than 5 1/3 years so that it comes nearest to the Earth every 16 years. 73P was originally estimated to have a core diameter of 1100 meters. Adjectives: Terrestrial, Terran, Telluric, Tellurian, Earthly Atmosphere Surface pressure: 101. ...

Breakup

In 1995, 73P began to disintegrate. It was seen to break into five large pieces labelled 73P-A, B, C, D & E. As of March 2006, at least eight fragments were known: B, C, G, H, J, L, M & N. On April 18, 2006, the Hubble Space Telescope recorded dozens of pieces of fragments B and G. It appears that the comet may eventually disintegrate completely and cease to be observable (as did 3D/Biela in the 19th century), in which case its designation would change from 73P to 73D. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a telescope in orbit around the Earth, named after astronomer Edwin Hubble for his discovery of galaxies outside the Milky Way and his creation of Hubbles Law, which calculates the rate at which the universe is expanding. ... 3D/Biela is the official designation for a lost periodic comet discovered in 1826 by Wilhelm von Biela. ...

The fragments were passing the Earth in late April and early May of 2006, coming nearest to the Earth around May 12 at a distance of about 11.9 million km (7.4 million miles). That is a close pass in astronomical terms (0.08 AU) though nothing to be concerned about. In 1930 when it passed the Earth this close, there were meteor showers with as many as 100 meteors per minute. However, recent analysis by P. A. Wiegert et al.^[1] suggests that a recurrence of this spectacle is unlikely. The astronomical unit (AU or au or a. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ...

In 2022, the comet fragments are expected to pass nearer to the Earth than in 2006. It is currently unknown what their exact trajectory is. Many astronomers will be watching as the fragments pass in 2006 to calculate their various trajectories for future years. If the fragments continue to break up, it may become impossible to track the many fragments since each time a fragment splits, the resulting fragments acquire progressively divergent trajectories. 2022 (MMXXII) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The comet was to be visited by the CONTOUR comet nucleus probe on June 18, 2006. Unfortunately, the probe broke up after the launch making the flyby impossible. The Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) was a Discovery-class space mission. ... It has been suggested that Space probe be merged into this article or section. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Image gallery

The C component (lower left) and B component (upper right) of 73P seen together 25 April, 2006. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1875x2467, 1063 KB)The C component (lower left) and B component (upper right) of Comet 73P as seen 25 APR 2006 from Mt Laguna, Calif. ...	The B, G and R components of 73P, and Tau Coronae Borealis, May 1, 2006. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1000x667, 158 KB)Pieces of Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (73P), components B, G and R, as seen 01 MAY 2006 from Mt Laguna, Calif. ...	The C component of 73P, and the Ring Nebula, May 8, 2006. Planetary Nebula M57 (also known as the Ring Nebula, NGC 6720 or Messier Object 57) is located in the constellation Lyra. ...	This image taken by Andrew Catsaitis of components B and C of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 as seen together on 31st May 2006.
This image of fragment C passing the ring nebula was taken on 2006.05.07 at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. St. ... Antigonish is a Canadian town in north-eastern Nova Scotia, just west of Cape Breton. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages none (English, French, Gaelic) Flower Mayflower Tree Red Spruce Bird Osprey Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 11 10 Area Total...	Component B as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. Also available as Video clip	Image by the Spitzer Space Telescope	Comet Schwassmann- Wachmann passes in the field of view of the Ring Nebula on May 7, 2006. Photo by Maynard Pittendreigh. The Rev. ...

External links

• Hubble provides spectacular detail of a comet's breakup
• 73P at Kronk's Cometography
• Mini-comets approaching Earth (NASA)
• Orbit diagram animated of the comet passing through our inner solar system
• Sky and Telescope article
• 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann at ESA/Hubble

Notes