C/2006 S3 LONEOS

Solar System
Dynamics &
Planetology
Group

C/2006 S3 LONEOS

General description

Comet C/2006 S3 was discovered on 19 November 2006 by LONEOS at heliocentric dostance of 14.3 au as an object with cometary apperance and soon a few prediscovery observations taken by Catalina Sky Survey on 17 September 2006 were found [IAUC 8752, 2006 September 21]. Later, more prediscovery observations were reported (taken on 29 August 2006 and 13 October 1999). Comet passed perihelion in mid-April 2012 (see below) and since its discovery was observed during eleven consecutive oppositions.

Complete observational arc of C/2006 S3 covered 16.6 yr in a range of heliocentric distances: 26.1 au – 5.131 au (perihelion) – 11.4 au.

Comet had its closest approach to Earth on 1 June 2012 (4.141 au, 1.5 months after perihelion).

C/2006 S3 suffered a very slight planetary perturbations during its passage through the planetary system, however these perturbations can lead to the future escape of the comet from the solar system.

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 C2006S3C6-001

Comet C/2006 S3 LONEOS

number of observations	6480
number of residuals	12847
data interval	1999 Oct. 13 — 2016 May 5
rms [arcsec]	0.53
orbit quality class

Osculating orbital elements (heliocentric; ecliptic J2000.0)

Epoch (TT)	20120423.0	= JD 2456040.5
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20120416.320034	± 0.000169
perihelion distance	5.13111870	± 0.00000135
eccentricity	1.00349158	± 0.00000159
argument of perihelion [deg]	140.128874	± 0.000023
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	38.370826	± 0.000009
inclination [deg]	166.032639	± 0.000003
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-680.47	± 0.31

Nongravitational parameters [10^-8 au/day²]

A₁ = 1.58860 ± 0.03639

A₂ = 1.71370 ± 0.04051

A₃ = 0.17961 ± 0.00655

where g(r)-like function (CO sublimation) were applied:

r₀ = 10.0

m = 2.0

n = 3.0

k = 2.6

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/2006 S3. 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)	17061114
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20120415.852860	± 0.000168
perihelion distance	5.13370133	± 0.00000133
eccentricity	0.99995071	± 0.00000158
argument of perihelion [deg]	140.027303	± 0.000023
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	38.303894	± 0.000009
inclination [deg]	166.015363	± 0.000003
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	9.60	± 0.31

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/2006 S3. 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)	23170425
time of perihelion passage (TT)	20120415.069048	± 0.000167
perihelion distance	5.13278473	± 0.00000139
eccentricity	1.00018065	± 0.00000158
argument of perihelion [deg]	140.119961	± 0.000023
longitude of the ascending node [deg]	38.447615	± 0.000009
inclination [deg]	166.034242	± 0.000003
inverse semimajor axis [10^-6 au^-1]	-35.20	± 0.31