Solar System
Dynamics &
Planetology
Group 		C/1993 A1 Mueller


General description

data set of C/1990 K1
The Catalogue of Cometary Orbit (Marsden & Williams, 2008, 17thEd.; MWC08) gives NG orbit based on less numerous data set (539 observations) and shorter time interval (1993 Jan. 02 — 1994 June 10). In June 2013, 745 observations were available at IAU Minor Planet Center Web Pages, however, osculating orbit was the same as in MWC08. Since MWC08 gives NG orbit, thus orbital quality class is not given there.

In Królikowska and Dybczyński (2010) the symmetric NG model based on full data interval is given (orbit of 1a class) and some trends in O-C variations are reported. The asymmetric model presented here gives time shift relative to perihelion passage τ = -34.2 ± 3.2 day and slight rms decreasing (orbit of 1a class) in comparison to symmetric NG model, however still some trends in O-C time variations are easily recognizable. Probably more dedicated treatment is necessary for this comet, maybe similar as for C/2001 Q4 and C/2002 T7 .

Figure caption: Time distribution of positional observations with corresponding heliocentric (red points) and geocentric (green points) 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 C1993A1N8-001

Comet C/1993 A1 Mueller (asymmetric non-gravitational solution)

number of observations 746
number of residuals 1483
data interval 1992 Nov. 26 — 1994 Aug. 17
rms [arcsec] 0.87
orbit quality class 1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT) 19921025.0 = JD 2448920.5
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19940112.948616 ± 0.000218
perihelion distance 1.93767483 ± 0.00000382
eccentricity 1.00162360 ± 0.00000420
argument of perihelion [deg] 130.666753 ± 0.000137
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 144.719771 ± 0.000026
inclination [deg] 124.878592 ± 0.000020
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] -837.91 ± 2.17

Nongravitational parameters [10-8 au/day2] A1 = 14.458 ± 0.215 A2 = 0.135 ± 0.279 A3 = -0.0890 ± 0.0627
time shift of g(r) relative to perihelion [day] -34.2 ± 3.2

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

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

Epoch (TT) 16930704
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19940113.880951 ± 0.000224
perihelion distance 1.94259216 ± 0.00000386
eccentricity 0.99987986 ± 0.00000428
argument of perihelion [deg] 130.672574 ± 0.000137
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 144.723714 ± 0.000027
inclination [deg] 124.970430 ± 0.000020
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 61.84 ± 2.20

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) 22890411
time of perihelion passage (TT) 19940113.944023 ± 0.000433
perihelion distance 1.93446946 ± 0.00000563
eccentricity 1.00080747 ± 0.00000670
argument of perihelion [deg] 130.706997 ± 0.000281
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 144.875683 ± 0.000033
inclination [deg] 124.890818 ± 0.000034
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] -417.41 ± 3.46


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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