An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics · Problem 22.5
Galaxies — Carroll & Ostlie
Physics — Astrophysics · sun-grazing-comet-orbit
Problem
Comet 1943 I, which last passed through perihelion on February 27, 1991, has an orbital period of 512 years and an orbital eccentricity of 0.999914. This is one member of the class of Sun-grazing comets.
(a) What is the comet's semimajor axis?
(b) Determine its perihelion and aphelion distances from the Sun.
(c) What is the most likely source of this object, the Oort cloud or the Kuiper belt?