87P/Bus

Comet 87P/Bus is a periodic comet with an orbital period of 6.5 years. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with (T_Jupiter > 3; a < a_Jupiter). It was discovered by Schelte J. Bus in 1981 on a plate taken with the 1.2m UK Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring, Australia. The discovery was announced in IAU Circular 3578 on March 4, 1981.

87P/Bus

Discovery
Discovered by	Schelte J. Bus
Discovery date	1981
Alternative designations	Bus/1981b; Bus/1981 XI;
Orbital characteristics ^A
Epoch	March 6, 2006
Aphelion	4.798 AU
Perihelion	2.174 AU
Semi-major axis	3.486 AU
Eccentricity	0.3764
Orbital period	6.509 a
Inclination	2.5768°
Last perihelion	May 9, 2020[1] December 19, 2013[2][3] July 7, 2007
Next perihelion	2029-Jun-08 (JPL Horizons last obs 2020-06-24)

It has been observed on each of its subsequent apparitions, most recently in 2020.[4]

References

1. "87P/Bus Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
2. Syuichi Nakano (2010-04-29). "87P/Bus (NK 1931)". OAA Computing and Minor Planet Sections. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
3. 87P past, present and future orbital elements
4. "87/P Bus". Seiichi Yoshida. Retrieved 15 May 2015.

• IAUC 3578

External links

• Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
• 87P/Bus – Seiichi Yoshida @ aerith.net