97P/Metcalf–Brewington

< 97P

97P/Metcalf–Brewington
Comet Metcalf–Brewington imaged by the Zwicky Transient Facility on 10 November 2021
Discovery
Discovered byJoel H. Metcalf
Howard J. Brewington
Discovery siteTaunton, Massachusetts
Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Discovery date10 October 1906
7 January 1991
Designations
P/1906 V2, P/1991 A1
  • 1906 VI, 1991 I
  • 1906h, 1991a
Orbital characteristics
Epoch31 March 2024 (JD 2460400.5)
Observation arc115.20 years
Number of
observations
607
Aphelion6.960 AU
Perihelion2.572 AU
Semi-major axis4.766 AU
Eccentricity0.4593
Orbital period10.406 years
Inclination17.949°
184.08°
Argument of
periapsis
230.10°
Mean anomaly73.309°
Last perihelion15 February 2022
Next perihelion19 July 2032
TJupiter2.710
Earth MOID1.656 AU
Jupiter MOID0.109 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.4 km (2.1 mi)
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
13.7

97P/Metcalf–Brewington is a periodic Jupiter-family comet originally discovered by Joel H. Metcalf in 1906 but subsequently lost. A new observation in 1991 by Howard J. Brewington was matched to the 1906 sighting; the orbit was computed and the comet was observed again on its returns to perihelion in 2001, 2011, and 2022.