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53P/Van Biesbroeck

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53P/Van Biesbroeck
Infrared image of 53P/Van Biesbroeck taken by NEOWISE on 26 April 2016
Discovery[1]
Discovered byGeorge Van Biesbroeck
Discovery siteYerkes Observatory
Discovery date1 September 1954
Designations
  • P/1954 R1
  • P/1965 J1
  • P/1989 H1
  • 1954 IV, 1966 III
  • 1978 XXIV, 1991 VI
  • 1954i, 1965d
  • 1977s
Orbital characteristics[3][4]
Epoch13 September 2023 (JD 2460200.5)
Observation arc63.42 years
Number of
observations		3,195
Aphelion8.423 AU
Perihelion2.445 AU
Semi-major axis5.434 AU
Eccentricity0.55009
Orbital period12.67 years
Inclination6.607°
148.83°
Argument of
periapsis		134.47°
Mean anomaly209.69°
Last perihelion29 April 2016[2]
Next perihelion24 December 2028
TJupiter2.652
Earth MOID1.416 AU
Jupiter MOID0.009 AU
Physical characteristics[3][5]
Mean diameter
6.66–6.74 km (4.14–4.19 mi)
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		10.0
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)		12.5

53P/Van Biesbroeck is a periodic comet about 7.0 km (4.3 mi) in diameter.[3] Its current orbital period is 12.67 years.

Observational history

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The comet was discovered by George Van Biesbroeck of the Yerkes Observatory on 1 September 1954 while searching for the asteroid 1953 GC.[1] The comet had an estimated apparent magnitude of 14.5 and appeared well condensed. The comet was then 1.85 AU (277 million km) from Earth and 2.86 AU (428 million km) from the Sun and had passed from its perigee, which took place on 17 August 1954. The comet was followed until 13 November 1955.[6]

Orbit

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This comet and 42P/Neujmin are fragments of a parent comet that split around March 1845.[7][8][9] The orbit of 53P/Van Biesbroeck has a Jupiter minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) of only 0.009 AU (1.3 million km; 840,000 mi).[3] The next perihelion passage is on Christmas Eve 24 December 2028.[4] The comet is expected to brighten to about apparent magnitude 14.

Physical characteristics

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The nucleus of the comet has a radius of 3.33–3.37 km (2.07–2.09 mi) based on observations by the Keck Observatory.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b B. Strömgren; G. Van Biesbroeck (4 September 1954). J. M. Vinter Hansen (ed.). "Comet Van Biesbroeck (1954i)". IAU Circular. 1469.
  2. ^ S. Yoshida (31 July 2011). "53P/Van Biesbroeck". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "53P/Van Biesbroeck – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b "53P/Van Biesbroeck Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  5. ^ a b K. J. Meech; O. R. Hainaut; B. G. Marsden (2004). "Comet nucleus size distributions from HST and Keck telescopes". Icarus. 170 (2): 463–491. Bibcode:2004Icar..170..463M. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.03.014.
  6. ^ G. W. Kronk (2009). Cometography: A Catalog of Comets. Vol. 4: 1933–1959. Cambridge University Press. pp. 458–460. ISBN 978-0-521-58507-1.
  7. ^ L. Kresak (25 April 1984). B. G. Marsden (ed.). "Periodic Comets Neujmin 3 and Van Biesbroeck". IAU Circular. 3940.
  8. ^ M. C. Festou; H. U. Keller; H. A. Weaver (2004). Comets II. Space Science. University of Arizona. pp. 236–237, 314. ISBN 978-0-816-52450-1.
  9. ^ J. Pittichova; K. J. Meech; G. B. Valsecchi; E. M. Pittich (1–6 September 2003). Are Comets 42P/Neujmin 3 and 53P/Van Biesbroeck Parts of one Comet?. DPS 35th Meeting, Session 47, Comets IV: Nuclei, Atmospheres and Dust. American Astronomical Society. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008.
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Numbered comets
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54P/de Vico–Swift–NEAT
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