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Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Timothy B. Spahr |
Discovery date | November 16, 1998 |
Designations | |
P/1998 W1 P/2005 R3 | |
Orbital characteristics | |
Epoch | 2012-Feb-03 (JD 2455960.5) |
Aphelion | 5.342 AU |
Perihelion | 1.764 AU |
Semi-major axis | 3.553 AU |
Eccentricity | 0.5033 |
Orbital period | 6.70 a |
Inclination | 21.94° |
Last perihelion | January 13, 2019[1] April 30, 2012[1] September 3, 2005 |
Next perihelion | 2025-Sep-25[2] |
171P/Spahr is a periodic comet in the Solar System. 171P/Spahr was recovered on 20–24 October 2011 at apparent magnitude 20.6 using the 2.0-metre (79 in) Faulkes Telescope South.[3] 171P/Spahr is peaked at about magnitude 18 in 2012.[4]
During the 1999 passage the comet brightened to about magnitude 13.5.[5]
At perihelion on January 13, 2019 when the comet was 1AU from Earth, the 3-sigma uncertainty in the comet's Earth distance was ±500 km.