Solar System
Dynamics &
Planetology
Group 		C/2001 K3 Skiff


SSDP Cometary Note C2001K3A2-001

Comet C/2001 K3 Skiff

number of observations 346
number of residuals 669
data interval 2001 May 22 — 2001 Oct. 12
rms [arcsec] 0.67
orbit quality class 2a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT) 20010522.0 = JD 2452051.5
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20010422.885552 ± 0.002018
perihelion distance 3.06018209 ± 0.00001221
eccentricity 0.99905199 ± 0.00002082
argument of perihelion [deg] 3.454678 ± 0.000569
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 289.850306 ± 0.000142
inclination [deg] 52.026705 ± 0.000265
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 309.79 ± 6.81

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) 16990214
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20010423.383672 ± 0.002066
perihelion distance 3.06886844 ± 0.00001189
eccentricity 0.99990440 ± 0.00002074
argument of perihelion [deg] 3.350967 ± 0.000568
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 289.836411 ± 0.000139
inclination [deg] 51.968638 ± 0.000262
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 31.15 ± 6.76

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) 23110207
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20010423.011716 ± 0.001972
perihelion distance 3.06103269 ± 0.00001205
eccentricity 0.99796219 ± 0.00002070
argument of perihelion [deg] 3.438725 ± 0.000569
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 289.773592 ± 0.000140
inclination [deg] 52.040007 ± 0.000261
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 665.73 ± 6.77


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

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