Comet C/2009 K5 McNaught

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Planetology
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C/2009 K5 McNaught

General description

Some trends in O-C time variations in the pure gravitational model (1a+ class) based on entire data set were noticed (see image on the right). Unfortunately, the NG effects cannot be reliably determined from the entire data set of C/2009 K5 as well as individually from pre- or post- perihelion orbit branches.

Thus, here two types of solutions are given:

pure gravitational orbit based on full data interval (SSDP Cometary Note C2009K5A5-001 just below); O-C time variation for this solution is given on the right
the most recommended two separate gravitational osculating orbits based on pre-perihelion (SSDP Cometary Note C2009K5P5-001, see below) and post-perihelion data (SSDP Cometary Note C2009K5RA-001 also given below), for studying the past and future dynamical evolution, respectively; O-C time vatiations for pre-perihelion solution in comparison with the solution based in entire data set is given here, the post-perihelion solution gives similar O-C time variation as solution based on full data set.

This second type of solutions is recommended for studying the dynamical evolution of this comet, in particular, its origin.
More details in Królikowska and Dybczyński, 2013.

Figure caption: Upper panel: 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. Lower panel: O-C diagram for the gravitational solution shows significant trends in right ascension (magenta dots) and declination (blue open circles). The same figure in the new window

SSDP Cometary Note C2009K5A5-001

Comet C/2009 K5 McNaught (solution based on the entire data arc)

number of observations	2539
number of residuals	4952
data interval	2009 May 27 — 2011 Oct. 28
rms [arcsec]	0.47
orbit quality class	1a+

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT)	20100614.0	= JD 2455361.5
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20100430.024135	± 0.000009
perihelion distance	1.42239751	± 0.00000009
eccentricity	1.00083926	± 0.00000028
argument of perihelion [deg]	66.173720	± 0.000006
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	257.856116	± 0.000003
inclination [deg]	103.879415	± 0.000005
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-590.03	± 0.20

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)	17101204
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20100428.968140	± 0.000013
perihelion distance	1.41933411	± 0.00000008
eccentricity	0.99992985	± 0.00000029
argument of perihelion [deg]	66.205134	± 0.000006
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	257.740137	± 0.000003
inclination [deg]	103.924710	± 0.000005
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	49.42	± 0.20

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)	23151014
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20100430.285035	± 0.000011
perihelion distance	1.41994001	± 0.00000009
eccentricity	0.99921239	± 0.00000029
argument of perihelion [deg]	66.074823	± 0.000006
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	257.913497	± 0.000003
inclination [deg]	104.020049	± 0.000005
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	554.68	± 0.20

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 C2009K5P5-001

Comet C/2009 K5 McNaught (solution based on pre-perihelion observations)

number of observations	820
number of residuals	1559
data interval	2009 May 27 — 2010 Apr. 29 (pre-perihelion data)
rms [arcsec]	0.33
orbit quality class	1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT)	20100614.0	= JD 2455361.5
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20100430.024020	± 0.000038
perihelion distance	1.42239454	± 0.00000032
eccentricity	1.00084485	± 0.00000080
argument of perihelion [deg]	66.173708	± 0.000028
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	257.856117	± 0.000006
inclination [deg]	103.879483	± 0.000008
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-593.96	± 0.56

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)	17101204
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20100428.968071	± 0.000031
perihelion distance	1.41933112	± 0.00000030
eccentricity	0.99993542	± 0.00000078
argument of perihelion [deg]	66.205123	± 0.000027
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	257.740138	± 0.000006
inclination [deg]	103.924779	± 0.000007
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	45.50	± 0.55

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/future 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 C2009K5RA-001

Comet C/2009 K5 McNaught (solution based on post-perihelion observations)

number of observations	1719
number of residuals	3357
data interval	2010 Apr. 30 — 2011 Oct. 28 (post-perihelion data)
rms [arcsec]	0.47
orbit quality class	1a

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT)	20100614.0	= JD 2455361.5
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20100430.024291	± 0.000023
perihelion distance	1.42240448	± 0.00000056
eccentricity	1.00084178	± 0.00000058
argument of perihelion [deg]	66.174037	± 0.000024
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	257.856122	± 0.000004
inclination [deg]	103.879388	± 0.000007
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-591.80	± 0.41

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

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

Epoch (TT)	23150904
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20100430.285159	± 0.000020
perihelion distance	1.41994702	± 0.00000055
eccentricity	0.99921490	± 0.00000058
argument of perihelion [deg]	66.075141	± 0.000025
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	257.913504	± 0.000004
inclination [deg]	104.020021	± 0.000007
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	552.91	± 0.41

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 original/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.

General description

SSDP Cometary Note C2009K5A5-001

Comet C/2009 K5 McNaught (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 C2009K5P5-001

Comet C/2009 K5 McNaught (solution based on pre-perihelion observations)

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

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

SSDP Cometary Note C2009K5RA-001

Comet C/2009 K5 McNaught (solution based on post-perihelion observations)

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

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

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