38P/Stephan–Oterma
< 38P
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Coggia, Jerome E. |
| Discovery date | January 22, 1867 |
| Designations | |
| P/1980 L2, P/1942 V1, P/1867 B1, 38P | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | 1981-Apr-26 (JD 2444720.5) |
| Aphelion | 20.920 AU (near Uranus orbit) |
| Perihelion | 1.5744 AU (near Mars orbit) |
| Semi-major axis | 11.247 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.86002 |
| Orbital period | 37.72 yr |
| Inclination | 17.981° |
| Last perihelion | November 10, 2018 December 5, 1980 |
| Next perihelion | 2056-Aug-28 |
38P/Stephan–Oterma (also known as Comet Stephan–Oterma) is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 38 years. It fits the classical definition of a Halley-type comet with (20 years < period < 200 years). It was discovered on 22.9 January 1867, by Jérôme Eugène Coggia at Marseilles Observatory, France. On 25.86 January Édouard Stephan confirmed it was a comet. It was recovered in 6 November 1942 by the Finnish astronomer Liisi Oterma.
38P/Stephan–Oterma last came to perihelion on November 10, 2018. It was recovered by Pan-STARRS on June 24, 2017 while 5.3 AU from the Sun. The next perihelion passage is August 28, 2056.