C/1977 D1 Lovas

Solar System
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Planetology
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C/1977 D1 Lovas

General description

Comet C/1977 D1 was discovered 3.5 months after perihelion passage and observed 1.1 yr in the range of heliocentric distances from 5.77 au to 6.81 au.

The comet made its closest approach to Earth on 15 February 1977 (4.85 au), that was two days before its discovery.

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 C1977D1A1-001

Comet C/1977 D1 Lovas

number of observations	17
number of residuals	34
data interval	1977 Feb. 17 — 1978 Apr. 7
rms [arcsec]	2.38
orbit quality class	1b

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT)	19761029.0	= JD 2443080.5
time of perihelion passage (TT)	19761031.960060	± 0.113630
perihelion distance	5.71540781	± 0.00042708
eccentricity	1.00408515	± 0.00025922
argument of perihelion [deg]	146.270960	± 0.012528
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	338.171393	± 0.000233
inclination [deg]	64.524257	± 0.000742
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-714.76	± 45.31

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

Figure caption: Six 2D-projections of the 6D space of original swarm (5001 VCs) of C/1977 D1. Each density map is given in logarithmic scale presented on the right in the individual panel.
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Original orbital elements (barycentric; at 250 au from the Sun)

Epoch (TT)	16691217
time of perihelion passage (TT)	19761102.341658	± 0.113509
perihelion distance	5.71177376	± 0.00042775
eccentricity	0.99976222	± 0.00025978
argument of perihelion [deg]	146.387958	± 0.012491
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	338.213491	± 0.000223
inclination [deg]	64.551800	± 0.000734
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	41.63	± 45.48

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.

Figure caption: Six 2D-projections of the 6D space of future swarm (5001 VCs) of C/1977 D1. Each density map is given in logarithmic scale presented on the right in the individual panel.
The same figure in the new window

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

Epoch (TT)	22830222
time of perihelion passage (TT)	19761031.923915	± 0.113578
perihelion distance	5.70335038	± 0.00042932
eccentricity	1.00002631	± 0.00025920
argument of perihelion [deg]	146.125892	± 0.012500
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	338.203940	± 0.000225
inclination [deg]	64.559191	± 0.000732
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-4.61	± 45.45