What is Known about Comet Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak?
Not much is currently know about comet T-G-K. Best estimates of some properties are listed here.
Nucleus Physical Properties
| Property | Value | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Effective Radius | ≲ 0.7 km | Lamy et al. (2004) Comets 2, pp 223-264 |
| Rotation Period | 19.9 hr (early Mar) 24-27 hr (late Mar) Complex rotation? Rapid spin-down? Geometric illusion? |
Farnham et al. (2017) CBET 4375 Knight et al. (2017) CBET 4377 |
| Spin Axis (RA,Dec) | [150°,+35°] (approx) | Farnham et al. (2017) CBET 4375 |
| Water Production | 2.7×1027 molec/s (28 Mar) |
TRAPPIST communication |
| Afρ | 60 cm | TRAPPIST communication |
| Active Fraction | ≥ 4% | Calculated from above |
Other Phenomena
- Exhibits significant outburst activity around perihelion on some, but not all of its apparitions.