Comet Humason
Encyclopedia
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Comet Humason, formally designated C/1961 R1 (a.k.a. 1962 VIII and 1961e), was a non-periodic comet
discovered by Milton L. Humason
on September 1, 1961. Its perihelion was well beyond the orbit of Mars
, at 2.133 AU
. Its period is 2940 years, and the diameter of its nucleus estimated at about 41 km.
It was a 'giant' comet, much more active than a normal comet for its distance to the Sun
, with an absolute magnitude
of +1.5, a hundred times brighter than an average new comet. It had an unusually disrupted or 'turbulent' appearance. It was also unusual in that the spectrum of its tail showed a strong predominance of the ion CO+, a result previously seen unambiguously only in Comet Morehouse
(C/1908 R1).
Comet Humason, formally designated C/1961 R1 (a.k.a. 1962 VIII and 1961e), was a non-periodic comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
discovered by Milton L. Humason
Milton L. Humason
Milton Lasell Humason was an American astronomer. He was born in Dodge Center, Minnesota.He dropped out of school and had no formal education past the age of 14. Because he loved the mountains, and Mount Wilson in particular, he became a "mule skinner" taking materials and equipment up the...
on September 1, 1961. Its perihelion was well beyond the orbit of Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, at 2.133 AU
Astronomical unit
An astronomical unit is a unit of length equal to about or approximately the mean Earth–Sun distance....
. Its period is 2940 years, and the diameter of its nucleus estimated at about 41 km.
It was a 'giant' comet, much more active than a normal comet for its distance to the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
, with an absolute magnitude
Absolute magnitude
Absolute magnitude is the measure of a celestial object's intrinsic brightness. it is also the apparent magnitude a star would have if it were 32.6 light years away from Earth...
of +1.5, a hundred times brighter than an average new comet. It had an unusually disrupted or 'turbulent' appearance. It was also unusual in that the spectrum of its tail showed a strong predominance of the ion CO+, a result previously seen unambiguously only in Comet Morehouse
Comet Morehouse
Comet Morehouse was a bright, non-periodic comet discovered by US astronomer Daniel Walter Morehouse and first observed on September 1, 1908. It was unusual in the rapid variations seen in the structure of its tail...
(C/1908 R1).