C/1943 W1 (van Gent–Peltier–Daimaca)

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C/1943 W1
(van Gent–Peltier–Daimaca)
C/1943 W1 photographed by George van Biesbroeck on 24 December 1943 from the Yerkes Observatory
Discovery
Discovered byHendrik van Gent
Leslie C. Peltier
Victor Daimaca
Discovery date27 November 1943
Designations
1943g
1944 I
Orbital characteristics
Epoch3 December 1943 (JD 2431061.5)
Observation arc10 days
Number of
observations
12
Aphelion~3,600 AU
Perihelion0.874 AU
Semi-major axis~1,800 AU
Eccentricity0.9995
Orbital period~76,000 years
Inclination136.183°
58.630°
Argument of
periapsis
33.092°
Last perihelion12 January 1944
TJupiter–0.834
Earth MOID0.0335 AU
Jupiter MOID0.8510 AU
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
0.397 km (0.247 mi)
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
10.0
6.0
(1943 apparition)

Comet van Gent–Peltier–Daimaca, formally designated as C/1943 W1, is a non-periodic comet with a rather peculiar discovery. It was independently discovered by four astronomers, however the established system of naming comets by the International Astronomical Union only recognizes the names of the first three people who observed it.