67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Mid-sized Jupiter-family Comet

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Space Reference » Jupiter-family Comets » 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Jupiter-family Comet
  • Comparable in size to the island of Manhattan (3.40 km diameter)
  • Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is a mid-sized comet whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has classified 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko 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.

67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko orbits the sun every 2,350 days (6.43 years), coming as close as 1.24 AU and reaching as far as 5.68 AU from the sun. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is about 3.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the island of Manhattan.

The rotation of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 12.76 hours.

No Close Approaches

67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's orbit is 0.26 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 1, 2008. It was last officially observed on April 26, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 8,608 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration

This comet is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.

Similar Objects

These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2457305.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 3.462 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.6409
  • Inclination: 7.04°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 50.14°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 12.8°
  • Mean Anomaly: 8.86°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 3.40000 km
  • Magnitude: 12.9

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 2,350 days (6.43 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 16.03 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 5.68 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 1.24 AU
  • Rotation Period: 12.76 hours

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko 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.

Size Rendering

The above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko to create an approximate landscape rendering with Mount Everest in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.