27P/Crommelin

27P/Crommelin
Comet Crommelin photographed by Ferdinand Quénisset on 28 October 1928
Discovery
Discovered by
Discovery date23 February 1818
Designations
  • P/1818 D1, P/1873 V1
  • P/1928 W1, P/1956 S1
  • 1818 I, 1873 VII, 1928 III
  • 1956 VI, 1984 IV
  • 1873g, 1928b, 1956g
  • 1983n
Orbital characteristics
Epoch18 July 2011 (JD 2455760.5)
Observation arc193.92 years
Number of
observations
497
Aphelion17.659 AU
Perihelion0.748 AU
Semi-major axis9.204 AU
Eccentricity0.91874
Orbital period27.922 years
Inclination28.96°
250.64°
Argument of
periapsis
195.98°
Mean anomaly359.41°
Last perihelion3 August 2011
Next perihelion27 May 2039
TJupiter1.481
Earth MOID0.229 AU
Jupiter MOID1.009 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
< 12±3 km
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
12.7
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)
16.3

Comet Crommelin, also known as Comet Pons-Coggia-Winnecke-Forbes, is a periodic comet with an orbital period of almost 28 years. It fits the classical definition of a Halley-type comet with (20 years < period < 200 years). It is named after the British astronomer Andrew C. D. Crommelin who calculated its orbit in 1930. It is one of only five known comets that are not named after their discoverer(s) It next comes to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) around 27 May 2039 when it will be near a maximum near-perihelion distance from Earth.