C/2008 Q3 (Garradd)

C/2008 Q3 (Garradd)
Photograph of Messier 3 (left) and C/2008 Q3 (Garradd) taken by WISE on 2 January 2010.
Discovery
Discovered byGordon J. Garradd
Discovery siteSiding Spring Observatory
Discovery date27 August 2008
Orbital characteristics
Epoch27 August 2009 (JD 2455070.5)
Observation arc431 days (1.18 years)
Number of
observations
701
Aphelion~17,780 AU
Perihelion1.798 AU
Semi-major axis~8,900 AU
Eccentricity0.99979
Orbital period~840,000 years
Inclination140.71°
219.73°
Argument of
periapsis
340.86°
Mean anomaly0.0001°
Last perihelion23 June 2009
TJupiter–1.286
Earth MOID0.814 AU
Jupiter MOID2.561 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
6.7 km (4.2 mi)
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
6.3
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)
12.8

Comet Garradd, formally designated as C/2008 Q3, is a non-periodic comet that was observed from August 2008 to June 2010. It is the 11th out of 17 comets discovered by Australian astronomer, Gordon J. Garradd.