159PWirtanen

159P/Wirtanen is a periodic comet in the Solar System, discovered by Carl Wirtanen on January 17, 1948. It is a short-period comet, with an orbital period of approximately 5.4 years. The comet is named after its discoverer, Carl Wirtanen.

159P/Wirtanen is a Jupiter-family comet, meaning its orbit is influenced by Jupiter's gravity. Its orbit brings it close to the Sun, with a perihelion distance of about 1.05 astronomical units (AU), and it extends out to an aphelion distance of about 5.1 AU.

The comet has a relatively small nucleus, estimated to be about 1.2 kilometers in diameter. It is known for its high activity level, with a significant amount of gas and dust being released as it approaches the Sun. This activity makes it a good target for observation and study.

159P/Wirtanen is notable for its close approach to Earth in December 2018. During this approach, the comet passed within about 11.5 million kilometers of Earth, making it one of the closest comets to approach our planet in recent history. This close approach provided astronomers with an opportunity to study the comet in detail, including its composition and structure.

The comet's next perihelion passage is expected to occur on December 12, 2024. It will be closely monitored by astronomers as it approaches the Sun and Earth, providing further opportunities for scientific study.