132P/Helin-Roman-Alu (0132P)

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Type: Periodic Perihelion date: 13 November 2021 Perihelion distance (q): 1.7 Aphelion distance (Q) : 6.1 Period (years): 7.7 Eccentricity (e): 0.56 Inclination (i): 5.4 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Eleanor F. Helin, B. Roman, and Jeff Alu discovered this comet using the 0.46-m Schmidt telescope at Palomar Observatory on 26 October 1989. They estimated the magnitude as 16. The comet changed little in brightness following its discovery, and then began to slowly fade after mid-November as it moved away from both the sun and Earth. It was last detected on 27 February 1990. The comet was expected to return to perihelion during 1997. It was recovered by C. W. Hergenrother using the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's 1.2-m reflector on Mt. Hopkins on 13 July 1997. The image showed a slight diffuseness. Further images on 14 July confirmed this was the comet and the nuclear magnitude was determined as 19.6. A short tail was also visible in PA 250 degrees. The precise positions indicated the prediction by B. G. Marsden (Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams) required a correction of -0.6 day. The comet passed perihelion on 10 November 1997 and did not exceed a brightness of magnitude 17. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 31-Aug-21 17.0 0.4 06-Sep-21 15.8 0.4 14-Sep-21 15.5 0.4