44P/Reinmuth (0044P)
TRY AGAIN 2028
Type: Periodic
Perihelion date: 23 April 2022
Perihelion distance (q): 2.1
Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.3
Period (years): 7.1
Eccentricity (e): 0.43
Inclination (i): 5.9
JPL orbit diagram
COBS lightcurve
The comet was discovered during a survey of small Solar System bodies with the 40
cm Bruce telescope at the LSW-Heidelberg Observatory in Heidelberg, Germany. The
absolute magnitude of the comet was estimated by Karl Reinmuth to be 13, two
orders of magnitude smaller than the current estimate. It was found to be a periodic
comet by Leland E. Cunningham in Berkeley, California, who calculated an elliptical
orbit with a 7.12-year orbital period. He also predicted that it would come to perihelion
again on October 3, 1947. Later, this was revised to 6.59 years and August 19, 1947.
The comet ended up reaching perihelion nearly one month after the expected date,
and the calculations of its orbit was then refined further until the values were correct.
Reinmuth makes many close approaches to Jupiter. These close approaches
gradually change its orbit. For example, on July 16, 2003, comet Reinmuth came
within 0.74144 AU of Jupiter. This increased its perihelion from 1.89 to 2.11 AU and its
orbital period from 6.63 to 7.07 years.
On February 11, 2039, Reinmuth will come within 0.52431 AU of Jupiter, which will
raise its perihelion to 2.44 AU and its orbital period to 7.78 years. On July 21, 2063
and March 1, 2146, Reinmuth will come 0.43878 AU and 0.51895 AU, respectively.
Close approaches like these could raise Reinmuth's perihelion until it ceases to
exhibit cometary features.
Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude)
Date
10x10 mag
Error
VEmag
Coma '
03-Jul-14
17.64
0.07
17.3
0.2
14-Aug-14
17.77
0.07
16.6
0.3
06-Sep-14
17.45
0.09
16.2
0.2
17-Aug-15
17.92
0.08
14.7
0.2
26-Aug-15
17.94
0.07
15.4
0.2
09-Sep-15
18.00
0.05
15.4
0.2
16-Sep-15
17.99
0.03
16.7
0.2
23-Sep-15
17.86
0.01
17.4
0.2
08-Oct-15
17.69
0.02
16.6
0.2
17-Oct-15
17.54
0.04
16.7
0.2
04-Nov-15
17.51
0.02
17.0
0.2
14-Nov-15
17.32
0.07
15.8
0.2
03-Dec-15
17.32
0.02
16.5
0.2
09-Dec-15
17.44
0.08
15.9
0.2
16-Dec-15
17.37
0.03
16.5
0.2
13-Jun-21
18.2
0.4
03-Jul-21
17.9
0.4
15-Jul-22
18.2
0.4
27-Aug-22
18.0
0.4
06-Sep-22
18.3
0.4
21-Sep-22
18.2
0.4
01-Oct-22
17.5
0.4
19-Oct-22
17.8
0.4
27-Oct-22
17.4
0.4
02-Nov-22
17.6
0.4
14-Nov-22
17.30
0.06
17.3
0.4
20-Feb-23
18.9
0.4
14-Mar-23
19.2
0.4