260P/McNaught

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260P/McNaught
260P 2019-10-03 image ZTF-sso-699-zr-fov-11arcmin.png
Comet McNaught 4 photographed from the Zwicky Transient Facility on 3 October 2019
Discovery [1] [2]
Discovered by Robert H. McNaught
Discovery site Siding Spring Observatory
Discovery date20 May 2005
Designations
P/2005 K3, P/2012 K2
McNaught 4
Orbital characteristics [3] [4]
Epoch 9 August 2022 (JD 2459800.5)
Observation arc 14.81 years
Number of
observations		6,792
Aphelion 5.831 AU
Perihelion 1.415 AU
Semi-major axis 3.623 AU
Eccentricity 0.60935
Orbital period 6.897 years
Inclination 15.058°
349.34°
Argument of
periapsis 		18.432°
Mean anomaly 151.97°
Last perihelion10 September 2019
Next perihelion5 August 2026 [5]
TJupiter 2.717
Earth MOID 0.495 AU
Jupiter MOID 0.024 AU
Physical characteristics [6] [7]
Mean radius
1.54±0.09 km
8.16±0.24 hours
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		12.7
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)		15.4

Comet McNaught 4, also known as 260P/McNaught, is a periodic comet with a 6.9-year orbit around the Sun. It is one of several comets discovered by Australian astronomer, Robert H. McNaught.

Contents

Observational history

On 20 May 2005, Robert H. McNaught found his fourth periodic comet (P/2005 K3) from the 0.5 m (1.6 ft) telescope of the Siding Spring Observatory, [1] where he reported it has a slightly diffuse head with a narrow tail about 30 arcseconds in length. [2]

It was later rediscovered in 15–18 May 2012 from the Pierre Auger Observatory as P/2012 K2, [8] which was later confirmed to be a recovery of comet McNaught 4 a few days later. [9]

During its 2019 apparition, a small outburst had temporarily brightened the comet from magnitude 13.78 to 13.59. [10]

Physical characteristics

Photometric analysis of the comet between August 2012 and January 2013 has determined that its nucleus rotates at a single axis, completing one stable rotation once every 0.34 ± 0.01 days (8.16 ± 0.240 hours). [6]

The nucleus itself has an effective radius of 1.54 ± 0.09 km (0.957 ± 0.056 mi). [7] However, near-infrared observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope found a smaller effective radius at around 0.322±0.04 km, indicating that it may have an elongated shape. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 R. H. McNaught (1 June 2005). B. G. Marsden (ed.). "Comet P/2005 K3 (McNaught)". Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams (161). Bibcode:2005CBET..161....1M.
  2. 1 2 R. H. McNaught (7 June 2005). D. W. Green (ed.). "Comet P/2005 K3 (McNaught)". IAU Circular (1). Bibcode:2005IAUC.8535....1M.
  3. ↑ "260P/McNaught – JPL Sma§ll-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Jet Propulsion Laboratory . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "260P/McNaught Orbit". Minor Planet Center . Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  5. ↑ S. Yoshida (30 June 2021). "260P/McNaught". www.aerith.net. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 F. Manzini; V. Oldani; R. Crippa; J. Borrero; et al. (2014). "Comet McNaught (260P/2012 K2): spin axis orientation and rotation period". Astrophysics and Space Science. 351 (2): 435–450. arXiv: 1403.5703 . Bibcode:2014Ap&SS.351..435M. doi:10.1007/s10509-014-1854-6.
  7. 1 2 M. M. Knight; R. Kokotanekova; N. H. Samarasinha (2023). "Physical and Surface Properties of Comet Nuclei from Remote Observations". arXiv: 2304.09309 [astro-ph.EP].
  8. ↑ M. Masek; G. V. Williams (21 May 2012). "MPEC 2012-K37: Comet P/2005 K3 = 2012 K2 (McNaught)". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Minor Planet Center. Bibcode:2012MPEC....K...37M. ISSN   1523-6714 . Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  9. ↑ M. Masek; G. V. Williams; S. Nakano (May 2012). D. W. Green (ed.). "Comet P/2012 K2 = P/2005 K3 (McNaught)". Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams (3113). Bibcode:2012CBET.3113....1M.
  10. ↑ M. S. P. Kelley; D. Bodewits; Q. Ye (8 October 2019). "Small outburst of comet 260P/McNaught". The Astronomer's Telegram. 13174. Bibcode:2019ATel13174....1K.
  11. ↑ M. L. Paradowski (2020). "A new method of determining brightness and size of cometary nuclei". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 492 (3): 4175–4188. Bibcode:2020MNRAS.492.4175P. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stz3597 .
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