Solar System
Dynamics &
Planetology
Group 		C/1999 N4 LINEAR




General description

data set of C/1999 N4

The same figure in the new window
C/1999 N4 was discovered as an apparently asteroidal object by LINEAR team on 12 July 1999 (ten months before perihelion passage), and soon reported as cometary by observers [IAUC 7226, 1999 July 17]. Later, pre-discovery detection from 27 August 1998 by LINEAR was found.

This comet made its closest approach to Earth on 4 June 2000 (4.589 au), twelve days after perihelion.

Solution given below is based on data span over 3.7 yr in a range of heliocentric distances: 7.14 au – 5.505 au (perihelion) – 7.49 au.

Comet suffered a very slight planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system.


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 C1999N4A5-001

Comet C/1999 N4 LINEAR

number of observations 345
number of residuals 661
data interval 1998 Aug. 27 — 2002 May 6
rms [arcsec] 0.53
orbit quality class 1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT) 20000516.0 = JD 2451680.5
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20000523.734622 ± 0.000816
perihelion distance 5.50473873 ± 0.00000628
eccentricity 1.00419246 ± 0.00000778
argument of perihelion [deg] 90.429037 ± 0.000097
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 345.901293 ± 0.000045
inclination [deg] 156.922915 ± 0.000009
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] -761.61 ± 1.41

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

data set of C/1999 N4

Figure caption: Six 2D-projections of the 6D space of original swarm (5001 VCs) of C/1999 N4. Each density map is given in logarithmic scale presented on the right in the individual panel.
The same figure in the new window

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

Epoch (TT) 16930704
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20000523.006014 ± 0.000829
perihelion distance 5.51393119 ± 0.00000622
eccentricity 0.99961003 ± 0.00000788
argument of perihelion [deg] 90.320748 ± 0.000100
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 345.906966 ± 0.000046
inclination [deg] 156.940933 ± 0.000009
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 70.73 ± 1.43

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) 23060910
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20000522.058157 ± 0.000849
perihelion distance 5.51244642 ± 0.00000630
eccentricity 0.99985465 ± 0.00000787
argument of perihelion [deg] 90.432807 ± 0.000099
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 345.955755 ± 0.000046
inclination [deg] 156.948399 ± 0.000009
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 26.37 ± 1.43


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.





Solar System Dynamics & Planetology Group, 2013. All rights reserved

\