Orbit of Comet 46P/Wirtanen


Orbital Elements (2018 Apparition - JPL K181/15)

Epoch JD 2458465
Perihelion Time T = Dec 12, 2018 22:20:28 UT
Perihelion Time (JD) T = 2458465.43088
Orbital Period P = 5.439 yr
Semi-major Axis a = 3.09265 AU
Perihelion Distance q = 1.05536 AU
Eccentricity e = 0.6588
Inclination (J2000) i = 11.748°
Ascending Node (J2000) Ω = 82.158°
Argument of Perihelion (J2000) ω = 356.340°
Perigee Time t = Dec 16, 2018 13:05 UT
Perigee Distance Δ = 0.07746 AU

Full Orbit From Above

View of 46P/Wirtanen's orbit as seen from the North ecliptic pole with the comet and planets shown at the time of the comet's closest approach to Earth. From the JPL Small-Body Database Browser.

View of 46P/Wirtanen's entire orbit.

Orbit in Oblique View

Oblique view of the portion of comet 46P/Wirtanen's orbit around perigee, viewed from 20° above the ecliptic plane. The black circle and Earth symbol denote the comet's and Earth's positions, respectively, at perigee (Dec 16, 2018). Tick marks at 15 day intervals show the orbit's position above or below the ecliptic plane.
Oblique view of 46P/Wirtanen's orbit.

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Orbit in Earth Co-Orbital View

The orbit of comet 46P/Wirtanen around perihelion, in the Earth's co-orbital reference frame, as seen from above (top panel) and in the ecliptic plane (bottom panel). The black circle denotes the comet's position at perihelion (Dec 12, 2018) and the open circles show positions at 30-day intervals.
Plot of 46P/Wirtanen's orbit in Earth-co-orbital frame.

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