259P/Garradd

< 259P
259P/Garradd
Comet 259P/Garradd in two different dates, one that was active (left) and one in which it appears inactive (right)
Discovery
Discovered byGordon J. Garradd
Discovery siteSiding Spring Observatory
Discovery date2 September 2008
Designations
P/2008 R1
Garradd 4
Orbital characteristics
Epoch26 July 2017 (JD 2457960.5)
Observation arc9.05 years
Number of
observations
68
Aphelion3.654 AU
Perihelion1.809 AU
Semi-major axis2.731 AU
Eccentricity0.33771
Orbital period4.514 years
Inclination15.889°
51.484°
Argument of
periapsis
257.50°
Mean anomaly358.03°
Last perihelion8 February 2022
Next perihelion11 August 2026
TJupiter3.217
Earth MOID0.858 AU
Jupiter MOID1.925 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
0.30±0.02 km
0.05 (assumed)
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
13.7
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)
18.9

259P/Garradd is a Jupiter-family comet and active asteroid with an orbital period of 4.5 years. It was discovered in images obtained on 2 September 2008 as part of the Siding Spring Survey by Gordon J. Garradd.