172P/Yeung

172P/Yeung
Discovery[1]
Discovered byBill Yeung
Discovery siteApache Point Observatory
Discovery date21 January 2002
Designations
P/2001 CB40
P/2002 BV
PK02B00V[2]
Orbital characteristics[3][4]
Epoch21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5)
Observation arc31.62 years
Earliest precovery date20 October 1993
Number of
observations		797
Aphelion5.091 AU
Perihelion3.358 AU
Semi-major axis4.225 AU
Eccentricity0.20507
Orbital period8.683 years
Inclination11.222°
30.881°
Argument of
periapsis		208.87°
Mean anomaly2.114°
Last perihelion2 November 2025
Next perihelion2034
TJupiter2.958
Earth MOID2.232 AU
Jupiter MOID0.082 AU
Physical characteristics[3]
Mean radius
5.6 km (3.5 mi)[5]
Comet total
magnitude (M1)		14.8

172P/Yeung is a Jupiter-family comet with a 6.59-year orbit around the Sun. It is the first of two comets discovered by Hong Kong/Canadian astronomer, William Kwong Yu Yeung.[a]

Observational history

It was initially thought as an apparently asteroid-like object from CCD images taken by Bill Yeung from the Apache Point Observatory on the night of 21 January 2002.[6] Additional reports from the Minor Planet Center later identified that this comet is the same object as 2001 CB40,[1] with precovery images dating as early as 20 October 1993.[4] This relatively long observation arc for a newly discovered comet allowed it to receive a permanent numerical designation from the MPC as 172P.[7]

Physical characteristics

Infrared observations by the Spitzer Space Telescope between 2006 and 2007 revealed that the nucleus of 172P/Yeung is about 5.6 km (3.5 mi) in radius.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ Bill Yeung later co-discovered C/2015 VL62 (Lemmon–Yeung–PanSTARRS) in 2015

References

  1. ^ a b T. Spahr; M. Calkins (9 May 2002). D. W. Green (ed.). "Comet P/2002 BV = P/2001 CB40 (Yeung)". IAU Circular. 7896 (1). Bibcode:2002IAUC.7896....1S.
  2. ^ W. K. Y. Yeung (2002). "The accidental discovery of Apollo asteroid 2002BJ2 and periodic comet P/2002 BV (Yeung)" (TXT). comethunter.de. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b "172P/Yeung – JPL Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b "172P/Yeung Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b Y. R. Fernández; M. S. P. Kelley; P. L. Lamy; et al. (2013). "Thermal properties, sizes, and size distribution of Jupiter-family cometary nuclei". Icarus. 226 (1): 1138–1170. arXiv:1307.6191. Bibcode:2013Icar..226.1138F. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2013.07.021.
  6. ^ "2002 Comet Awards Announced". SpaceNews.com (Press release). 1 July 2002. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  7. ^ D. W. Green (29 September 2005). "Comets 171P/Spahr and 172P/Yeung". IAU Circular. 8605 (3). Bibcode:2005IAUC.8605....3G.



allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/172P/Yeung