Solar System
Dynamics &
Planetology
Group 		C/1988 B1 Shoemaker




data set of C/1988 B1

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General description

Comet C/1988 B1 was discovered by Carolyn S. and Eugene M. Shoemaker (with the 0.46-m Schmidt telescope at Palomar) on 23 January 1988 (IAUC 4547), when the comet was ten months after its perihelion passage. The comet was last seen on 6 January 1992.

The comet made its closest approach to the Earth on 4 February 1988 (4.68 au), that was twelve days after its discovery. Slightly deeper close approach to the Earth was in the previous opposition (not observed) when the comet was within 4.62 au from the Earth (12 February 1987, about five weeks before perihelion passage).

Solution given below is based on data span over 4.0 yr in the range of heliocentric distances from 5.55 au to 12.85 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 C1988B1A1-001

Comet C/1988 B1 Shoemaker

number of observations 66
number of residuals 127
data interval 1988 Jan. 23 — 1992 Jan. 6
rms [arcsec] 0.98
orbit quality class 1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT) 19870326.0 = JD 2446880.5
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19870320.107555 ± 0.009206
perihelion distance 5.03070649 ± 0.00007222
eccentricity 1.00248504 ± 0.00003544
argument of perihelion [deg] 124.217043 ± 0.001331
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 325.159660 ± 0.000038
inclination [deg] 80.585940 ± 0.000139
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] -493.98 ± 7.03

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

data set of C/1988 B1

Figure caption: Six 2D-projections of the 6D space of original swarm (5001 VCs) of C/1988 B1. 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) 16811015
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19870319.600552 ± 0.009221
perihelion distance 5.03079825 ± 0.00007241
eccentricity 0.99989942 ± 0.00003516
argument of perihelion [deg] 124.243345 ± 0.001322
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 325.210131 ± 0.000038
inclination [deg] 80.573568 ± 0.000139
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 19.99 ± 6.99

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) 22910220
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19870319.919988 ± 0.009039
perihelion distance 5.03103521 ± 0.00007221
eccentricity 1.00054965 ± 0.00003515
argument of perihelion [deg] 124.175688 ± 0.001327
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 325.180830 ± 0.000038
inclination [deg] 80.574313 ± 0.000138
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] -109.25 ± 6.99


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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