Comet 15P/Finlay is an object whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has classified 15P/Finlay as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
15P/Finlay orbits the sun every 2,380 days (6.52 years), coming as close as 0.98 AU and reaching as far as 6.00 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical.
15P/Finlay's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
15P/Finlay has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 12, 2034 | 29,267,808 | 15.411 |
| Oct. 22, 2060 | 5,001,616 | 12.551 |
15P/Finlay's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 27, 2008. It was last officially observed on March 3, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,655 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 15P/Finlay is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.