+ View the NASA Portal + Near-Earth Object (NEO) Program Search JPL JPL Small-Body Database Browser Search: [ help ]   C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) Classification: Comet          SPK-ID: 1003162 [ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ] [ show orbit diagram ] Orbital Elements at Epoch 2455901.5 (2011-Dec-06.0) TDB Reference: JPL 58 (heliocentric ecliptic J2000)  Element Value Uncertainty (1-sigma)   Units  e .9999294152687143 2.236e-07   a 78.68293963959538 0.24975 AU q .005553814151232848 1.0909e-07 AU i 134.3558107377023 0.0018036 deg node 326.3691470244605 0.0041876 deg peri 53.50921241435645 0.0030657 deg M 359.9858617465071 6.7391e-05 deg tp 2455911.511809000032 (2011-Dec-16.01180900) 6.2161e-05 JED period 254929.0293747837 697.96 1213.8 3.323 d yr n .001412157732224157 6.7235e-06 deg/d Q 157.3603254650395 0.49948 AU   Orbit Determination Parameters    # obs. used (total)      123      data-arc span      40 days      first obs. used      2011-11-27      last obs. used      2012-01-06      planetary ephem.      DE406      SB-pert. ephem.      SB406-CPV-2      condition code      4      fit RMS      .63468      data source      ORB      producer      Paul W. Chodas      solution date      2012-Jun-04 12:31:54   Additional Information  Earth MOID = .490179 AU   T_jup = 0.002  [ show covariance matrix ] [ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ] Physical Parameter Table Parameter Symbol Value Units Sigma Reference Notes comet total magnitude M1 15.3 mag 0.9 58 from 52 observations, assumed slope (user-specifi, autocmod 2.5b comet total magnitude slope K1 9.3   n/a 58 autocmod 2.5b comet nuclear magnitude M2 20.6 mag 1. 58 from 43 observations, autocmod 2.5b comet nuclear magnitude slope K2 5.   n/a 58 autocmod 2.5b comet nuclear phase coefficient PC 0.03   n/a 58 autocmod 2.5b [ show close-approach data ] Alternate Designations  Perihelion  Year (est.)  New-Style  Desig Roman  Numeral  Year/  Letter   2012.0   C/2011 W3        [ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ] 2013-May-20 03:29 UT (server date/time)   Site Manager:   Donald K. Yeomans Webmaster:   Alan B. Chamberlin