94P/Russell


94P/Russell 4 is a periodic comet in the Solar System.

Observational history

It was discovered by Kenneth S. Russell on photographic plates taken by M. Hawkins on March 7, 1984. In the discovery images, Russell estimated that the comet had an apparent magnitude of 13 and a noticeable tail of 5 arcminutes. In the year of discovery, the comet had come to perihelion in January 1984.

Orbit

With an aphelion of, comet 94P currently has an orbit contained completely inside of the orbit of Jupiter. It fits the definition of an Encke-type comet with.

Physical characteristics

In July 1995, 94P was estimated to have a radius of about with an absolute magnitude of 15.1. It may have a very elongated nucleus with an axial ratio of a/b ≥ 3. It is determined that it has a rotation period of 20.7 hours.