X/1882 K1 (Tewfik)
 Comet Tewfik photographed by George F. Chambers | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | M. Trépied |
| Discovery date | 17 May 1882 |
| Designations | |
| Eclipse Comet of 1882 | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Observation arc | 70 sec (0.001 day) |
| Number of observations | 1 |
| Orbit type | Kreutz sungrazer |
| Max. orbital speed | 500 km/s |
| Last perihelion | 17 May 1882 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 0.0[2] (1882 apparition) | |
The Eclipse Comet of 1882, designated as X/1882 K1, was a Kreutz sungrazer comet that was spotted during the solar eclipse of May 17, 1882. It is sometimes referred to as Comet Tewfik, named after the Khedive of Egypt at the time, Tewfik Pasha.[3]
Discovery and observations
[edit]A party of observers gathered in Upper Egypt to watch a total solar eclipse that occurred on May 17, 1882. By coincidence, a comet was spotted moving across the sky during the 70-second long eclipse.[2] Observers noted a "luminous streak" about magnitude 0.0 in brightness, and only half a degree from the limb of the Sun. It wasn't identified as a comet until one of the astronomers, M. Trépied, noticed it in one of Dr. Arthur Schuster's photographs about an hour after the eclipse.[1]
Initial investigations suggested that this comet was probably C/1882 F1 (Wells), however later calculations showed that the latter comet would have not been in the proper position at the time and it would have been fainter. Its orbit cannot be determined with great accuracy due to its sighting during the eclipse being the only observation made for it.[1] Despite this, Brian Marsden determined that Comet Tewfik is a member of the Kreutz sungrazer group.[3]
See also
[edit]- C/1882 R1, also known as the Great Comet of 1882, another Kreutz sungrazer comet that became visible about four months after Tewfik.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c G. W. Kronk. "X/1882 K1 (Eclipse Comet or "Tewfik")". Cometography.com. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b A. Hale (16 May 2020). "Comet of the Week: Tewfik X/1882 K1". RocketSTEM.org. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b B. G. Marsden (1967). "The Sungrazing Comet group". The Astronomical Journal. 72 (9): 1170–1183. Bibcode:1967AJ.....72.1170M. doi:10.1086/110396.
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