129P/Shoemaker–Levy Explained

129P/Shoemaker-Levy
Discoverer:	Carolyn S. Shoemaker Eugene Merle Shoemaker David H. Levy
Discovery Date:	February 7, 1991
Designations:	1990 XXVII; 1996 U1
Epoch:	March 6, 2006
Semimajor:	3.741 AU
Perihelion:	2.807 AU
Aphelion:	4.676 AU
Eccentricity:	0.2497
Period:	7.237 a
Inclination:	5.0108°
Last P:	2022-Nov-30^[1] February 11, 2014^[2] June 5, 2005
Next P:	2031-Nov-05^[3]

129P/Shoemaker–Levy, also known as Shoemaker–Levy 3, is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with (T_Jupiter > 3; a < a_Jupiter),^[4] and is a quasi-Hilda comet.^[5]

This comet should not be confused with Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 (D/1993 F2), which spectacularly crashed into Jupiter in 1994.

External links

• Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
• 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 – Seiichi Yoshida @ aerith.net
• Elements and Ephemeris for 129P/Shoemaker-Levy – Minor Planet Center
• 129P at Kronk's Cometography

Notes and References

1. Web site: 129P/Shoemaker-Levy Orbit . . 2014-06-17.
2. Web site: 2005-10-27 . 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 (NK 1273) . OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections . Syuichi Nakano . Syuichi Nakano . 2012-02-25.
3. Web site: Horizons Batch for 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 (90001036) on 2031-Nov-05 . . Perihelion occurs when rdot flips from negative to positive . 2023-07-06. (JPL#K223/25 Soln.date: 2023-Jun-08)
4. Web site: 2011-10-30 last obs . JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 129P/Shoemaker-Levy 3 . . 2012-07-26.
5. The quasi-Hilda subgroup of ecliptic comets - an update . Toth . I. . . 448 . 3 . 1191–1196 . 10.1051/0004-6361:20053492 . 2006A&A...448.1191T . March 2006. free .