156P/Russell-LINEAR (0156P)

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Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 30 April 2027 Perihelion distance (q): 1.3 Aphelion distance (Q) : 5.6 Period (years): 6.4 Eccentricity (e): 0.62 Inclination (i): 17.3 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Atlas In September 1986. K. S. Russell (Siding Spring Observatory, Australia) was examining a 90-min exposure taken by F. G. Watson on 3 September with the U.K. Schmidt Telescope. The comet appeared as a diffuse trail, since it moved during the exposure, and the magnitude was estimated as 17. M. Hartley obtained a 30-minute exposure with the same telescope on 25 September, but independent examination by Russell and, later, R. H. McNaught revealed no trace of the comet. No formal announcement was ever made by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. In November 1993, C. S. Shoemaker (Palomar Observatory, California, USA) discovered a minor planet on plates exposed with the 46-cm Palomar Schmidt telescope, which received the designation "1993 WU". It was not followed further. The object was found a third time in August 2000, by the LINEAR survey. It received the designation 2000 QD181. LINEAR obtained three more positions on 5 September. Another minor planet was found by LINEAR on 6 November, which was designated 2000 XV43. It was subsequently shown that that minor planet 2000 QD181 was identical to minor planet 2000 XV43, minor planet 1993 WU and the comet found by Russell on 3 September 1986. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 14-Sep-20 16.32 0.01 15.8 0.4 21-Sep-20 16.12 0.05 15.6 0.4 07-Oct-20 14.45 0.05 14.5 0.4 07-Nov-20 12.80 0.02 9.7 7.5 17-Nov-20 12.45 0.01 9.3 8.1 05-Dec-20 12.49 0.02 8.7 7.9 08-Dec-20 12.59 0.04 8.6 7.5 09-Jan-21 13.74 0.04 10.1 4.9 31-Jan-21 14.55 0.03 10.7 4.3 09-Feb-21 12.1 2.6 13-Feb-21 14.95 0.02 11.9 3.2 01-Mar-21 14.98 0.03 12.8 1.5 08-Mar-21 12.0 1.5 11-Mar-21 14.1 0.6 16-Mar-21 15.76 0.03 13.5 1.5 30-Mar-21 15.0 0.6 10-Apr-21 14.7 0.8 03-May-21 16.97 0.03 16.2 0.4 11-May-21 15.0 0.6