Solar System
Dynamics &
Planetology
Group 		C/1972 L1 Sandage




data set of C/1997 P2

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General description

Comet C/1972 L2 was discovered on 9 June 1972, about five months before perihelion passage, and was last seen on 10 November 1974 [Kronk and Meyer, Cometography: Volume 5], however in 1974 only a few positional measurements were taken (see picture).

This comet made its closest approach to the Earth on 16 May 1972 (3.682 au), 24 days before discovery.

Solution given below is based on data span over 2.36 yr in a range of heliocentric distances: 4.47 au – 4.276 au (perihelion) – 7.01 au.


Figure caption: Time distribution of positional observations with corresponding heliocentric (red curve) and geocentric (green curve) distance at which they were taken. The horizontal dotted line shows the perihelion distance for a given comet whereas vertical dotted line — the moment of perihelion passage.




SSDP Cometary Note C1972L1A2-001

Comet C/1972 L1 Sandage

number of observations 150
number of residuals 296
data interval 1972 June 9 — 1974 Oct. 19
rms [arcsec] 1.40
orbit quality class 1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT) 19721119.0 = JD 2441640.5
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19721114.809745 ± 0.003887
perihelion distance 4.27576201 ± 0.00001790
eccentricity 1.00636268 ± 0.00002624
argument of perihelion [deg] 56.657922 ± 0.000583
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 225.485976 ± 0.000118
inclination [deg] 79.367842 ± 0.000073
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] -1488.08 ± 6.13

Notes: Epoch is given in a format: yyyymmdd.d, time of perihelion passage in a format of yyyymmdd.dddddd.

data set of C/1972 L1

Figure caption: Six 2D-projections of the 6D space of original swarm (5001 VCs) of C/1972 L1. Each density map is given in logarithmic scale presented on the right in the individual panel.
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Original orbital elements (barycentric; at 250 au from the Sun)

Epoch (TT) 16680605
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19721115.398710 ± 0.003935
perihelion distance 4.26458890 ± 0.00001844
eccentricity 0.99978206 ± 0.00002648
argument of perihelion [deg] 56.882790 ± 0.000579
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 225.480163 ± 0.000117
inclination [deg] 79.487939 ± 0.000073
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 51.11 ± 6.21

Note: Values of uncertainties of original/future orbital elements were derived using a swarm of 5001 osculating orbits of VCs (including the nominal osculating orbit given above) for original/future orbital evolution calclulations and then by fitting the distribution of a given orbital element of original/future swarm of VCs to Gaussian distribution.

Original barycentric positions and velocities of 5001 VCs at 250 au from the Sun are given here   (data format), i.e. before entering the planetary zone.

Future orbital elements (barycentric; at 250 au from the Sun)

Epoch (TT) 22691122
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19721113.990154 ± 0.003911
perihelion distance 4.27440651 ± 0.00001806
eccentricity 1.00265385 ± 0.00002653
argument of perihelion [deg] 56.572391 ± 0.000589
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 225.472679 ± 0.000117
inclination [deg] 79.414662 ± 0.000072
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] -620.87 ± 6.20


Future barycentric positions and velocities of 5001 VCs at 250 au from the Sun are given here   (data format), i.e. after leaving the planetary zone.





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