The comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
Finder chart
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From Cambridge , 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 16° above the horizon at dawn.
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|
Name
21P/Giacobini-Zinner
|
Object Type
Comet
|
Current Position
| Constellation: | Sextans |
| Magnitude: | 21.47 (V) [1] |
| Absolute mag (H): | 9.40 [2] |
| Slope parameter (n): | 5.84 [2] |
| Right ascension: | 10h38m [1] |
| Declination: | -11°36' [1] |
| Distance: | 4.63 AU 38.47 lightmin [1] |
Orbital Elements [1]
| Semi-major axis: | 3.50 AU |
| Eccentricity: | 0.710421 |
| Inclination: | 32.00° |
| Longitude ascending node: | 195.39° |
| Argument of perihelion: | 172.85° |
| Epoch of elements: | 14 May 2019 |
| Mean Anomaly at epoch: | 37.04° |
Derived quantities
| Perihelion: | 1.01 AU |
| Aphelion: | 5.98 AU |
| Orbital period: | 6.54 years |
Additional sources
Where possible, the brightnesses of comets are estimated from absolute magnitude values computed by the BAA Comet Section, based on the observations they receive. We prefer these to the Minor Planet Center's own magnitude estimates, since the latter are less often updated. Nonetheless, comets are intrinsically unpredictable objects, and magnitude estimates must always be taken with a pinch of salt.