Comet C/2003 K4 LINEAR

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Dynamics &
Planetology
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C/2003 K4 LINEAR

General description

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. The observations not taken for the orbit determination given in SSDP Cometary Note C2003K4D6-001 (below) are shown by grey dots.

The Catalogue of Cometary Orbit (Marsden & Williams, 2008, 17^thEd.; MWC08) gives GR orbit (class 1A) based on significantly less number of observations (2244) and shorter arc (2006 May 28 — 2004 July 09). In June 2013, 3712 observations were available at IAU Minor Planet Center Web Pages, however, osculating orbit is the same as in MWC08. Non-gravitational osculating orbit given at JPL Small-Body Database Browser is based on 3606 observations.

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.

Therefore, two types of orbits are given here:

the nongravitational orbit based on full data interval (this solution: SSDP Cometary Note C2003K4N5-001). This model gives NG orbit of 1a+ class with evident trends in O-C time variations. The asymmetric model gives very large time shift of τ = -89 ± 3 day, and slight rms decreasing (orbit of 1a class) in comparison to symmetric NG solution and similar trends in O-C time variations; thus the symmetric model is included here.
the nongravitational osculating orbit based on data taken at large distances (SSDP Cometary Note C2003K4D6-001, see below) where no significant trends in O-C time variations are noticed; recommended for studying the past and future dynamical evolution of this comet.

O-C time vatiations for both solutions are here, where magenta points represent residuals in right ascension, blue – in declination).

SSDP Cometary Note C2003K4N5-001

Comet C/2003 K4 LINEAR (non-gravitational solution based on the entire data arc)

number of observations	3658
number of residuals	7245
data interval	2003 May 28 — 2006 Nov. 17
rms [arcsec]	0.46
orbit quality class	1a+

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT)	20030501.0	= JD 2452760.5
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20041013.697058	± 0.000024
perihelion distance	1.02406159	± 0.00000046
eccentricity	1.00043406	± 0.00000053
argument of perihelion [deg]	198.404190	± 0.000036
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	18.651630	± 0.000009
inclination [deg]	134.247399	± 0.000003
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-423.86	± 0.52

Nongravitational parameters [10^-8 au/day²]

A₁ = 0.8522 ± 0.0171

A₂ = -0.43620 ± 0.00607

A₃ = -0.06644 ± 0.00432

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)	17060319
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20041013.574142	± 0.000025
perihelion distance	1.02053946	± 0.00000046
eccentricity	0.99996796	± 0.00000052
argument of perihelion [deg]	198.550756	± 0.000036
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	18.663783	± 0.000009
inclination [deg]	134.279113	± 0.000003
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	31.39	± 0.51

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)	23010827
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20041013.151808	± 0.000033
perihelion distance	1.02157402	± 0.00000047
eccentricity	1.00012172	± 0.00000078
argument of perihelion [deg]	198.400305	± 0.000037
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	18.727274	± 0.000009
inclination [deg]	134.215507	± 0.000008
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-119.15	± 0.76

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.

SSDP Cometary Note C2003K4D6-001

Comet C/2003 K4 LINEAR (solution based on the data taken at large distances from the Sun)

number of observations	1838 (observations at large distances from the Sun)
number of residuals	3632
data interval	2003 May 28 — 2006 Nov. 17
rms [arcsec]	0.44
orbit quality class	1a+

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT)	20030501.0	= JD 2452760.5
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20041013.706563	± 0.000658
perihelion distance	1.02405532	± 0.00000118
eccentricity	1.00041390	± 0.00000162
argument of perihelion [deg]	198.405628	± 0.000089
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	18.651602	± 0.000033
inclination [deg]	134.247433	± 0.000008
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-404.18	± 1.58

Nongravitational parameters [10^-8 au/day²]

A₁ = 0.3299 ± 0.0407

A₂ = 0.1058 ± 0.0256

A₃ = -0.1252 ± 0.0148

Note: Epoch is given in a format: yyyymmdd.d, time of perihelion passage in a format of yyyymmdd.dddddd.
Most recommended model for studying the origin and future of this comet.

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

Epoch (TT)	17051229
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20041013.583724	± 0.000667
perihelion distance	1.02053316	± 0.00000119
eccentricity	0.99994788	± 0.00000163
argument of perihelion [deg]	198.552191	± 0.000090
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	18.663745	± 0.000034
inclination [deg]	134.279144	± 0.000008
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	51.07	± 1.60

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

Epoch (TT)	23001230
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20041013.162810	± 0.000728
perihelion distance	1.02158994	± 0.00000199
eccentricity	1.00018592	± 0.00000261
argument of perihelion [deg]	198.403591	± 0.000193
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	18.727300	± 0.000021
inclination [deg]	134.215649	± 0.000022
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-182.00	± 2.56

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.

General description

SSDP Cometary Note C2003K4N5-001

Comet C/2003 K4 LINEAR (non-gravitational solution based on the entire data arc)

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

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

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

SSDP Cometary Note C2003K4D6-001

Comet C/2003 K4 LINEAR (solution based on the data taken at large distances from the Sun)

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

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

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

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