Key Facts

Overview

77P/Longmore 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 not classified 77P/Longmore as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

77P/Longmore orbits the sun every 2,510 days (6.87 years), coming as close as 2.33 AU and reaching as far as 4.89 AU from the sun. 77P/Longmore is about 8.2 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the San Francisco Bay.

No Close Approaches

77P/Longmore's orbit is 1.34 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is an extremely 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

77P/Longmore's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 11, 1975. It was last officially observed on Aug. 5, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,509 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 77P/Longmore:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2456539.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 3.612 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.3543
  • Inclination: 24.34°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 14.9°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 196.99°
  • Mean Anomaly: 218.77°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 8.20000 km
  • Magnitude: 9.1

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 2,510 days (6.87 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 15.66 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 4.89 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 2.33 AU

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 77P/Longmore 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.