C/1963 F1 (Alcock)

< C
C/1963 F1 (Alcock)
Comet Alcock photographed from the US Naval Observatory on 21 March 1963.
Discovery
Discovered byGeorge E. D. Alcock
Discovery sitePeterborough, England
Discovery date19 March 1963
Designations
1963b
1963 III
Orbital characteristics
Epoch15 May 1963 (JD 2438164.5)
Observation arc118 days
Number of
observations
101
Aphelion1,476 AU
Perihelion1.537 AU
Semi-major axis738.8 AU
Eccentricity0.99738
Orbital period~14,200 years
Inclination86.219°
43.465°
Argument of
periapsis
146.62°
Last perihelion5 May 1963
TJupiter0.108
Earth MOID0.632 AU
Jupiter MOID2.855 AU
Physical characteristics
Comet total
magnitude
(M1)
6.6
Comet nuclear
magnitude (M2)
13.9
4.4
(1963 apparition)

Comet Alcock, formally designated as C/1963 F1 is a non-periodic comet that became barely visible to the naked eye in May 1963. It is the third of five comets discovered by English astronomer, George Alcock.