Orbits of Comet Kohoutek and Earth

Comet Kohoutek, formally designated C/1973 E1, 1973 XII, and 1973f, was first sighted on March 7, 1973 by Czech astronomer Luboš Kohoutek. It attained perihelion on December 26 that same year. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... LuboÅ¡ Kohoutek (January 29, 1935, ZábÅ™eh in Moravia) is a Czech astronomer. ... is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Provisional designation of in astronomy is the naming convention applied to astronomical objects immediately following their discovery. ... Watergate redirects here. ... Orbit of Comet Kohoutek, 1973– 1974 Source http://history. ... Orbit of Comet Kohoutek, 1973– 1974 Source http://history. ... In ancient times, only the Sun and Moon, a few hundred stars and the most easily visible planets had names. ... is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... LuboÅ¡ Kohoutek (January 29, 1935, ZábÅ™eh in Moravia) is a Czech astronomer. ... This article is about several astronomical terms (apogee & perigee, aphelion & perihelion, generic equivalents based on apsis, and related but rarer terms. ... is the 360th day of the year (361st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Kohoutek is a long period comet, with an orbital period of approximately 75,000 years. Kohoutek was hyped by the media as the "comet of the century" because scientists theorized that Kohoutek was an Oort Cloud Object. As such, it was believed likely that this was the comet's first visit to the inner solar system, which would result in a spectacular display of outgassing. However, Kohoutek's display was considered a let-down, leading some to nickname it "Comet Watergate". Infrared and visual telescopic study have led many scientists to conclude, in retrospect, that Kohoutek is actually a Kuiper belt object, which would account for its apparent rocky makeup and lack of outgassing.^[1] Comet Hale-Bopp Comet West For other uses, see Comet (disambiguation). ... The orbital period is the time it takes a planet (or another object) to make one full orbit. ... Artists rendering of the Oort cloud and the Kuiper Belt. ... Watergate redirects here. ... The Kuiper belt, derived from data from the Minor Planet Center. ...

However, although it failed to brighten to levels expected, it was still a naked eye object. Its best viewing was in the night sky after perihelion, when it had dimmed to fourth magnitude The comet also sported a tail up to 25° long, along with an anti-tail. This article is about several astronomical terms (apogee & perigee, aphelion & perihelion, generic equivalents based on apsis, and related but rarer terms. ... The apparent magnitude (m) of a star, planet or other celestial body is a measure of its apparent brightness as seen by an observer on Earth. ...

Its greatest visual magnitude was -3, when it was at perihelion, 0.14 au from the Sun. Its orbital inclination is 14.3°. The astronomical unit (AU or au or a. ... Sol redirects here. ... For the science fiction novella by William Shunn, see Inclination (novella). ...

C/1973 E1 should not be confused with the periodic comet 75D/Kohoutek, which can also be called "Comet Kohoutek" (as could the comets C/1969 O1 and C/1973 D1, also discovered by Luboš Kohoutek as sole discoverer). The following is the IAUs list of periodic comets. ...

This comet was observed by the crew of Skylab 4 and Soyuz 13, thus becoming the first comet to be observed by a manned spacecraft. Skylab 4 or SL-4 was the fourth Skylab mission and placed the third crew on board. ... Soyuz 13 was a second test flight of the redesigned Soyuz capsule that first flew as Soyuz 12. ...

Impact on popular culture

Because Comet Kohoutek fell far short of expectations, its name became synonymous with spectacular duds. However, it was fairly bright as comets go and put on a respectable show in the evenings shortly after perihelion.

In 1973, David Berg, founder of the Children of God, predicted that Comet Kohoutek foretold a colossal doomsday event in the United States in January 1974.^[2][3] Children of God members distributed Berg's messages, which warned of impending doom, across the country. The majority of U.S.-based members then fled in anticipation to existing group communes (or formed new ones) around the world. No such event actually occurred. David Brandt Berg (18 February 1919 - October 1994), frequently known by the pseudonym Moses David, was the founder and leader of the religious movement formerly called Children of God, now called The Family International. He was what the French call an asshole. ... The Children of God (COG), later known as the Family of Love, the Family, and now the Family International (TFI), is a new religious movement, widely referred to as a cult by the media and some government organizations, that started in 1968 in Huntington Beach, California, United States. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... A Commune is a kind of intentional community where most resources are shared and there is little or no personal property. ...

Comet Kohoutek inspired numerous musicians and other artists:

• The jazz composer Sun Ra performed the Concert for the Comet Kohoutek in December 1973.
• The first single of German avant-garde music group Kraftwerk, released in December 1973, was called "Kohoutek-Kometenmelodie". On the album Autobahn, which appeared a few months later, the track title was shortened to "Kometenmelodie" (comet melody).
• The first album of Yahowha 13 from 1973 is called Kohoutek.
• Argent's 1974 album Nexus begins with three linked tracks inspired by Kohoutek: "The Coming of Kohoutek"; "Once Around the Sun"; and "Infinite Wanderer".
• The rock band Journey wrote and recorded the instrumental "Kohoutek", which appeared on their self-titled debut album Journey in 1975.
• The comet was a metaphor for a romantic relationship in the R.E.M. song "Kohoutek" on their 1985 record Fables of the Reconstruction.
• Bill Carroll released an album in 1994 titled Kohoutek.
• The English techno group 808 State wrote and recorded the instrumental "Kohoutek", which appeared on their 1996 album Don Solaris.
• The annual Kohoutek Music and Arts festival at Pitzer College is a free event named after and in honor of the comet held every spring.
• In Simpsons episode 2F11, "Bart's Comet," Principal Skinner says he missed the chance to name a comet after himself once, but that he "got back" at Principal Kohoutek... "him and that little boy of his!"

For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... Sun Ra (Born Herman Poole Blount; legal name Le Sonyr Ra;[1] born May 22, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, died May 30, 1993 in Birmingham, Alabama) was an innovative jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his cosmic philosophy, musical compositions and performances. ... Kraftwerk (pronounced [], German for power station) is a German musical group from Düsseldorf that has made immense contributions to the development of improvisational rock and electronic music, most notably within the latter categorys sub-genres which later became known as synthpop, electro, techno, house and IDM. Early musical... Kohoutek-Kometenmelodie is a recording by German band Kraftwerk, recorded and released in Germany in 1973. ... Autobahn (German for motorway) is an album by Kraftwerk, released in 1974. ... Argent was the name of a rock band founded in 1969 by Rod Argent after his previous band, The Zombies, broke up. ... This article is about the type of musical group. ... Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California. ... Journeys self-titled debut album, Journey, was released in 1975 on the Columbia Records label. ... R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia in 1980 by Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass guitar), and Michael Stipe (vocals). ... Fables of the Reconstruction is the third studio album released by the American band R.E.M. on the I.R.S. Records label, in 1985. ... Bill Carroll in concert, 2005 Bill Carroll (born December 29, 1966 in Wilmington, Delaware) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, bassist and guitarist. ... For the American state with the area code 808, see Hawaii. ... See also: 1996 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1996 Record labels established in 1996 January - two teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, aged 18 and 16 respectively, murdered Bassetts parents and younger brother in McCleary. ... Pitzer College is a small, highly selective, private residential liberal arts college located in Claremont, California, a college town approximately 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... Barts Comet is the 14th episode of The Simpsons sixth season. ... Principal W. Seymour Skinner (born in Capital City as Armin Tamzarian)[1][2] is a fictional character on the animated sitcom The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. ...

See also

• 75D/Kohoutek (a.k.a. 1975 III, 1975c, 1981 IX, 1980j, 1987 XXVII, 1986k)
• 76P/West-Kohoutek-Ikemura (a.k.a. 1975 IV, 1975b, 1981 VIII, 1980r, 1987 XV, 1987x, 1993 XXI, 1993o)

References

External links

• Kohoutek: Comet of the Century TIME magazine article on the comet, and comets in history
• Kohoutek, Comet Entry on the Internet Encyclopedia of Science
• Kohoutek Music and Arts Festival Pitzer College's Annual Kohoutek Music and Arts Festival