OAA computing section circular NK 621 Periodic Comet Kowal 2 (104P)

The following improved orbital elements, by S. Nakano, are from 103 observations 1979 to 1992, including planetary perturbations by Mercury to Pluto and five minor planets, Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, Iris, Bamberga and non-gravitational effect of style II. The mean residual is +/- 1.03 arc seconds. Epoch = 1991 Oct. 31.0 TT (With some uncertainty) T = 1991 Nov. 4.42818 +/- 0.00164 (m.e.) TT Peri. = 189.55298 +/- 0.00140 Node = 247.78434 +/- 0.00109 (2000.0) Inc. = 15.82935 +/- 0.00051 q = 1.4997474 +/- 0.0000181 AU e = 0.5642831 +/- 0.0000411 a = 3.4420227 +/- 0.0000079 AU n' = 0.15434177 +/- 0.00000053 P = 6.386 +/- 0.0000219 years A1 = -2.143 +/- 0.574 A2 = -0.06585 +/- 0.25343 [ T = 1972 Aug. 4.62326 TT Epoch = 1972 July 22.0 TT Peri. = 189.27557 e = 0.5591729 Node = 247.94162 (2000.0) a = 3.4655113 AU Inc. = 15.77417 n'= 0.15277528 q = 1.5276912 AU P = 6.451 years ] T = 1979 Jan. 13.71022 TT Epoch = 1979 Jan. 7.0 TT Peri. = 189.33852 e = 0.5605022 Node = 247.91695 (2000.0) a = 3.4580529 AU Inc. = 15.79670 n'= 0.15326981 q = 1.5198065 AU P = 6.431 years [ T = 1985 June 11.24020 TT Epoch = 1985 June 24.0 TT Peri. = 189.39322 e = 0.5637000 Node = 247.84859 (2000.0) a = 3.4457446 AU Inc. = 15.82261 n'= 0.15409177 q = 1.5033785 AU P = 6.396 years ] The predicted orbit for the 1998 return is as follows: T = 1998 Mar. 1.95422 TT Epoch = 1998 Mar. 8.0 TT Peri. = 191.90759 e = 0.5853139 Node = 246.15297 (2000.0) a = 3.3679626 AU Inc. = 15.49063 n'= 0.15946052 q = 1.3966474 AU P = 6.181 years [ Residual block was lost].

Director, Computing Section Syuichi Nakano 1995 Apr. 20

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