48P/Johnson

48P/Johnson
Infrared image of Comet Johnson taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope on 18 July 2005
Discovery[1]
Discovered byErnest Leonard Johnson
Discovery date25 August 1949
Designations
P/1949 Q1, P/1956 P1
  • 1949 II, 1956 V, 1963 IV
  • 1970 IV, 1977 I
  • 1983 XVIII, 1990 XXIII
Orbital characteristics[2][3]
Epoch28 April 2016 (JD 2457506.5)
Observation arc5,220 days (14.29 years)
Number of
observations
1,612
Aphelion5.021 AU
Perihelion2.006 AU
Semi-major axis3.514 AU
Eccentricity0.42897
Orbital period6.587 years
Inclination12.283°
111.46°
Argument of
periapsis
214.69°
Mean anomaly235.39°
Last perihelion2 March 2025
TJupiter2.931
Earth MOID1.007 AU
Jupiter MOID0.513 AU
Physical characteristics[4][5]
Dimensions6.0 × 4.4 km (3.7 × 2.7 mi)
Mean diameter
5.74 km (3.57 mi)
29 hours
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
8.9
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)
13.4

48P/Johnson is a periodic comet in the Solar System.

The comet nucleus is estimated to be 5.74 km (3.57 mi) in diameter by Lamy, Fernandez, and Weaver.[6] Meanwhile, David C. Jewitt and Scott S. Sheppard estimate the nucleus to have dimensions of 6.0 × 4.4 km (3.7 × 2.7 mi).[4]

References

  1. ^ E. L. Johnson (29 August 1949). J. M. Vinter Hansen (ed.). "Comet Johnson (1949d)". IAU Circular. 1228 (1).
  2. ^ "48P/Johnson – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  3. ^ "48P/Johnson Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b D. C. Jewitt; S. S. Sheppard (2004). "The nucleus of comet 48P/Johnson". The Astronomical Journal. 127 (3): 1784–1790. Bibcode:2004AJ....127.1784J. doi:10.1086/382097.
  5. ^ B. E. A. Mueller; N. H. Samarasinha (2018). "Further Investigation of Changes in Cometary Rotation". The Astronomical Journal. 156 (3): 107–114. arXiv:1806.11158. Bibcode:2018AJ....156..107M. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aad0a1.
  6. ^ P. L. Lamy; I. Toth; Y. R. Fernández; H. A. Weaver (2004). "The Sizes, Shapes, Albedos, and Colors of Cometary Nuclei" (PDF). Comets II. pp. 223–264. JSTOR j.ctv1v7zdq5.22.