Solar System
Dynamics &
Planetology
Group 		C/2007 N3 Lulin


General description

data set of C/2007 N3
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 lines show the perihelion distance for a given comet whereas vertical dotted lines — the moment of perihelion passage.

Evident trends in the O-C time variations for various types of nongravitational solutions (important normal component of NG acceleration) based on entire data set were noticed (even in the case of asymmetric model of non-gravitational acceleration given just below).

Thus, here two types of solutions are given: This second type of solutions for backward and forward dynamical studies is recommended. More details in Królikowska and Dybczyński, 2013.




SSDP Cometary Note C2007N3N6-001

Comet C/2007 N3 Lulin (asymmetric non-gravitational solution)

number of observations 3951
number of residuals 7740
data interval 2007 July 11 — 2011 Jan. 1
rms [arcsec] 0.35
orbit quality class 1a+

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT) 20090109.0 = JD 2454840.5
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20090110.640067 ± 0.000006
perihelion distance 1.21225654 ± 0.00000007
eccentricity 0.99997682 ± 0.00000045
argument of perihelion[deg] 136.862765 ± 0.000042
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 338.535488 ± 0.000041
inclination[deg] 178.373633 ± 0.000004
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 19.12 ± 0.37

Nongravitational parameters [10-8 au/day2] A1 = 0.08679 ± 0.00814 A2 = -0.02142 ± 0.00696 A3 = -0.13334 ± 0.00190
time shift of g(r) relative to perihelion [day] 11.3 ± 1.9

Note: 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) 17100226.0
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20090109.707426 ± 0.000015
perihelion distance 1.20594372 ± 0.00000017
eccentricity 0.99996094 ± 0.00000021
argument of perihelion[deg] 136.944658 ± 0.000138
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 338.502932 ± 0.000132
inclination[deg] 178.368268 ± 0.000012
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 32.39 ± 0.17

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) 23170604.0
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20090109.692209 ± 0.000041
perihelion distance 1.21506856 ± 0.00000030
eccentricity 0.99899255 ± 0.00000076
argument of perihelion[deg] 136.783399 ± 0.000110
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 338.509220 ± 0.000108
inclination[deg] 178.373716 ± 0.000005
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 829.13 ± 0.62


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 C2007N3PA-001

Comet C/2007 N3 Lulin (solution based on pre-perihelion data)

number of observations 1594
number of residuals 3132
data interval 2007 July 11 — 2009 Jan. 8 (pre-perihelion data)
rms [arcsec] 0.33
orbit quality class 1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT) 20090109.0 = JD 2454840.5
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20090110.640177 ± 0.000037
perihelion distance 1.21226490 ± 0.00000096
eccentricity 0.99998333 ± 0.00000073
argument of perihelion[deg] 136.866852 ± 0.000153
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 338.539889 ± 0.000144
inclination[deg] 178.373604 ± 0.000005
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 13.75 ± 0.60

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 of this comet.

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

Epoch (TT) 17100226.0
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20090109.707500 ± 0.000039
perihelion distance 1.20595272 ± 0.00000095
eccentricity 0.99996465 ± 0.00000072
argument of perihelion[deg] 136.943949 ± 0.000153
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 338.502617 ± 0.000145
inclination[deg] 178.368253 ± 0.000007
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 29.31 ± 0.59

Note: Values of uncertainties of original orbital elements were derived using a swarm of 5001 osculating orbits of VCs (including the nominal osculating orbit given above) for original orbital evolution calclulations and then by fitting the distribution of a given orbital element of original 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.




SSDP Cometary Note C2007N3R3-001

Comet C/2007 N3 Lulin (solution based on post-perihelion data)

number of observations 515
number of residuals 1004
data interval 2009 Apr. 28 — 2011 Jan. 1 (post-perihelion data)
rms [arcsec] 0.38
orbit quality class 1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT) 20090109.0 = JD 2454840.5
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20090110.642206 ± 0.000866
perihelion distance 1.21225069 ± 0.00000451
eccentricity 0.99998422 ± 0.00000255
argument of perihelion[deg] 136.863235 ± 0.000550
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 338.535924 ± 0.000552
inclination[deg] 178.373830 ± 0.000008
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 13.01 ± 2.11

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 future evolution of this comet.

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

Epoch (TT) 23170604.0
time of perihelion passage (TT) 20090109.694574 ± 0.000861
perihelion distance 1.21506461 ± 0.00000438
eccentricity 0.99899926 ± 0.00000245
argument of perihelion[deg] 136.783798 ± 0.000535
longitude of the ascending node [deg] 338.509365 ± 0.000536
inclination[deg] 178.373715 ± 0.000005
inverse semimajor axis [10-6 au-1] 823.61 ± 2.06

Note: Values of uncertainties of future orbital elements were derived using a swarm of 5001 osculating orbits of VCs (including the nominal osculating orbit given above) for future orbital evolution calclulations and then by fitting the distribution of a given orbital element of future swarm of VCs to Gaussian distribution.

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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