Re: [Phys-l] Comets

["Dan Crowe" <dcrowe@Loudoun.K12.VA.US>]

I think he means perihelion, not apogee.  Apogee is the farthest point
from the Earth of an Earth-orbiting satellite.  Perihelion means the
closest point to the Sun of a Sun-orbiting satellite.  Another important
factor is the size of the comet.  A smaller comet would be less visible
than a larger one.  A comet with a lower albedo would also be less
visible than one with a higher albedo.

Daniel Crowe
Loudoun Academy of Science
dcrowe@loudoun.k12.va.us
> > > cvbritton@earthlink.net 01/07/07 8:56 PM >>>
How would this stack-up as an extreme scenario for 'fastest comet'. 
(shortest viewing time)

A highly elliptical orbit with apogee (closest?) occurring at one AU, 
(93+ megamiles or so), with the earth in the same neighborhood.
Let it's orbit be clockwise around the sun (earth's being
counterclockwise.)

The more eccentric the orbit - the less time it spends in view.

Someone with way more experience with celestial mechanics than I can 
probably calculate a reasonable time for such a comet to come and go.

Let it come no closer than a few moon-orbit-radii to avoid another
Tunguska.

Can anyone come up with a faster scenario?