C/1962 C1 (Seki–Lines)
Great Comet of 1962, discovered independently by two observers.
C/1962 C1 (Seki–Lines), also called Comet Seki–Lines or 1962c, is a hyperbolic comet. It was spotted independently by Richard D. Lines and Tsutomu Seki on 4 February 1962. After swinging past the Sun on 1 April at just 0.031 AU (about 4.6 million km), it flared up dramatically in April 1962, earning it the title Great Comet of 1962.
At discovery, the comet was near ζ Puppis. Two days later, Lowell Observatory pegged its apparent magnitude at 8. By late February and early March, it was visible to the naked eye, crossing Eridanus and Cetus. Brightening quickly, it reached magnitude 0 to –1 by 27 March. Perihelion came on 1 April at roughly 4 million km from the Sun; despite being bright enough, no one reported seeing it in daylight. After perihelion, it appeared in the northwestern evening twilight on 3 April at magnitude –2.5, with a slightly curved tail spanning 10 to 15 degrees. Photographs showed small striae in the tail, which also seemed split in two. The comet faded fast through April as its distance from both the Sun and Earth grew, and it was no longer observable by month’s end. In late May, it stayed low, moving into conjunction with the Sun. It was last photographed on 30 May, low in twilight, with a tail just 2.5 arcminutes long. Flagstaff observatory rephotographed it on 27 and 28 October 1962 and again on 27 November. The final observation came on 25 January 1963; attempts in February turned up nothing.
Before perihelion, the comet’s spectrum resembled that of Comet Mrkos, with similar intensities of diatomic carbon and NH₂. It also showed [O I] and the sodium D-line, which displayed spatial asymmetry.
Quick Facts
- Discovery Ref
- IAUC_1790
- Discoverer
- Tsutomu Seki / Richard D. Lines
- Discovery Date
- 4 February 1962
- Designations
- 1962cICQ1 / 1962 III
- Orbit Ref
- jpl
- Epoch
- 30 May 1962 (JD 2437814.5)
- Observation Arc
- 349 days
- Obs
- 32
- Perihelion
- 0.031 AU
- Eccentricity
- 1.0000045
- Inclination
- 65.01°
- Asc Node
- 304.68°
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The comet was discovered independently by Richard D. Lines and Tsutomu Seki on 4 February 1962, when it was located near ζ Puppis. Two days later, the Lowell Observatory estimated its apparent magnitude at 8. By late February and early March, the comet became visible to the naked eye as it crossed the constellations of Eridanus and Cetus. It brightened rapidly, and by 27 March its magnitude was estimated to be 0 to -1. The comet reached perihelion on 1 April 1962 at a distance of about 4 million km (0.027 AU) from the Sun, but no daylight observations were reported despite its expected brightness.
After perihelion, the comet appeared in the northwestern evening twilight on 3 April with an estimated magnitude of -2.5. It displayed a slightly curved tail, reported to be 10 to 15 degrees long, which featured small striae in photographs and appeared split in two. The comet faded rapidly during April and could no longer be observed by the end of the month. It was last photographed on May 30, with its tail measured at 2.5 arcminutes in length. The comet was reobserved photographically on 27 and 28 October 1962 and on 27 November 1962 by the Flagstaff observatory, and was last observed on 25 January 1963.
Reader's Guide
The significance of C/1962 C1 (Seki–Lines) lies in its status as the Great Comet of 1962, reaching a peak magnitude of -2.5 after perihelion and displaying a prominent tail up to 15 degrees long. Its hyperbolic orbit and rapid brightening made it a notable object for both amateur and professional observers. The comet's spectrum before perihelion was similar to that of comet Mrkos, with strong emissions of diatomic carbon and NH2, and also showed the [O I] and sodium D-line with spatial asymmetry, providing data on cometary composition. The independent discoveries by Richard D. Lines and Tsutomu Seki highlight the collaborative nature of comet hunting in the early 1960s. The comet's fading and eventual last observation on 25 January 1963, after photographic attempts in February failed, marked the end of its visibility. Its legacy includes contributing to the understanding of cometary spectra and tail structure, as well as being a bright, well-observed comet of its era.
Did You Know?
- It reached a peak magnitude of -2.5 on 3 April 1962, after perihelion.
- Its tail was reported to be 10 to 15 degrees long and appeared split in two.
More in Named Comets, Part 2 1-24
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