* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Comet 10P/Tempel 2

Blobrana · L

Comet 10P/Tempel 2 is at perihelion (1.423 AU) on the 4th July, 2010.

Blobrana · L

Ephemeris

Date    TT    R. A. (2000) Decl.     Delta      r     Elong.  Phase   Mag
2010 06 23    23 22.94   -06 50.2    0.807    1.428   102.5    44.0   8.4
2010 06 28    23 37.63   -06 48.5    0.784    1.425   103.9    43.8   8.3
2010 07 03    23 51.97   -06 52.5    0.762    1.423   105.3    43.6   8.2
2010 07 08    00 05.84   -07 02.8    0.742    1.423   107.0    43.1   8.2
2010 07 13    00 19.14   -07 19.8    0.725    1.425   108.7    42.5   8.1
2010 07 18    00 31.76   -07 43.5    0.709    1.429   110.6    41.7   8.1
2010 07 23    00 43.59   -08 14.0    0.696    1.435   112.7    40.8   8.1
2010 07 28    00 54.54   -08 51.2    0.684    1.443   114.9    39.6   8.2

Blobrana · L

The magnitude 9.4 comet, 10P/Tempel 2, will pass 0.29° from the magnitude 11.8 galaxy NGC 7721, in the constellation Aquarius, at 10:00 UT, 28th June, 2010.

Blobrana · L

Ephemeris

Date    TT    R. A. (2000) Decl.     Delta      r     Elong.  Phase   Mag
2010 05 04    20 52.19   -10 19.6    1.180    1.562    90.7    40.2  10.2
2010 05 09    21 06.86   -09 52.0    1.131    1.541    91.9    40.9  10.0
2010 05 14    21 21.70   -09 24.3    1.085    1.523    93.1    41.5   9.7
2010 05 19    21 36.68   -08 57.2    1.042    1.505    94.3    42.1   9.5
2010 05 24    21 51.79   -08 31.2    1.001    1.489    95.4    42.6   9.3
2010 05 29    22 07.00   -08 06.7    0.962    1.475    96.5    43.1   9.1

Blobrana · L

Ephemeris

Date    TT    R. A. (2000) Decl.     Delta      r     Elong.  Phase   mag
2010 03 05    18 10.91   -13 43.6    1.932    1.875    71.7    30.2  13.3
2010 03 10    18 23.33   -13 40.1    1.860    1.845    73.7    31.1  13.0
2010 03 15    18 35.93   -13 33.8    1.789    1.816    75.5    32.0  12.7
2010 03 20    18 48.70   -13 24.7    1.720    1.788    77.3    32.9  12.5
2010 03 25    19 01.66   -13 12.8    1.652    1.760    79.0    33.8  12.2
2010 03 30    19 14.80   -12 58.4    1.586    1.732    80.7    34.7  12.0

Blobrana · L

When professional astronomers study a comet carefully enough and they are patient enough to do so every chance they get, the results can be astonishing. This type of result is just what Lowell Observatory astronomers and colleagues have with research on Comet 10P/Tempel 2. Lowell astronomer David Schleicher led a team that made the best measurement of the comet's rotation period, showing that the rotation period of Tempel 2's nucleus has lengthened, or the comet has slowed down, by about 10 seconds every five years.

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