171P/Spahr

< 171P
171P/Spahr
Discovery
Discovered byTimothy B. Spahr
Discovery dateNovember 16, 1998
Designations
P/1998 W1
P/2005 R3
Orbital characteristics
Epoch2012-Feb-03
(JD 2455960.5)
Aphelion5.342 AU
Perihelion1.764 AU
Semi-major axis3.553 AU
Eccentricity0.5033
Orbital period6.70 a
Inclination21.94°
Last perihelionJanuary 13, 2019
April 30, 2012
September 3, 2005
Next perihelion2025-Sep-25

171P/Spahr is a periodic comet in the Solar System. 171P/Spahr was recovered on 20–24 October 2011 at apparent magnitude 20.6 using the 2.0-metre (79 in) Faulkes Telescope South. 171P/Spahr is peaked at about magnitude 18 in 2012.

During the 1999 passage the comet brightened to about magnitude 13.5.

At perihelion on January 13, 2019 when the comet was 1AU from Earth, the 3-sigma uncertainty in the comet's Earth distance was ±500 km.