C/1853 G1 (Schweizer)
Long-period comet linked to two weak meteor showers.
C/1853 G1 (Schweizer) is a long-period comet with an orbital period of roughly 780 years. It was discovered by Kaspar Gottfried Schweizer on 5 April 1853, while he was observing from Moscow. Schweizer spotted it near the star rho Aquilae, describing it as small and round, about 3 arcminutes across, and lacking a tail. At the time, the comet was moving toward Earth, so its motion across the sky was slow. Its closest approach to our planet occurred on 29 April, at a distance of 0.084 AU, when it traveled 24 degrees across the sky in a single day. After that, the comet became visible in the southern hemisphere, where its tail was reported to stretch up to 10 degrees long and its nucleus shone as brightly as a third or fourth magnitude star. By 1 May, the comet was reported to be of first magnitude, but it faded rapidly and was no longer visible to the naked eye later that month. Perihelion occurred on 10 May, and the comet was last detected on 11 June 1853. The minimum orbital intersection distance of the comet with Earth is 0.07 AU. It has been linked to two weak meteor showers: the γ Aquilids, which peak on 4 May, and the 52 Herculids, which may be identical to the R Lyrids.
Quick Facts
- Discoverer
- Kaspar Gottfried Schweizer
- Discovery Date
- 5 April 1853
- Designations
- 1853 II
- Orbit Ref
- jpl
- Epoch
- 27 May 1853 (JD 2398000.5)
- Observation Arc
- 57 days
- Obs
- 80
- Aphelion
- 169 AU
- Perihelion
- 0.909 AU
- Semimajor
- 85 AU
- Eccentricity
- 0.9893
- Period
- 781 years
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Kaspar Gottfried Schweizer discovered the comet near rho Aquilae while observing from Moscow, describing it as small and round, about 3 arcminutes across, with no tail. The comet was moving towards Earth and thus moved slowly in the sky. Its closest approach to Earth occurred on 29 April at a distance of 0.084 AU, on which day the comet moved 24 degrees across the sky. After that, it appeared in the southern hemisphere. Its tail was reported to be up to 10 degrees long, and the nucleus was as bright as a third or fourth magnitude star. On 1 May the comet was reported to be of first magnitude. It faded rapidly and by May was no longer visible with the naked eye. Perihelion took place on 10 May, and the comet was last detected on 11 June 1853.
Reader's Guide
C/1853 G1 (Schweizer) is significant primarily for its association with two weak meteor showers: the γ Aquilids, which peak on 4 May, and the 52 Herculids, which may be the same as the R Lyrids. The comet's minimum orbital intersection distance with Earth is 0.07 AU, which allows for these meteor showers. Its discovery by Kaspar Gottfried Schweizer from Moscow, and its rapid brightening to first magnitude followed by swift fading, provide a typical example of a long-period comet's behavior. The comet's orbital period of about 780 years places it among the longer-period comets, and its close approach to Earth at 0.084 AU made it a notable object for observation in both hemispheres. The uncertainty regarding the 52 Herculids possibly being identical to the R Lyrids is preserved in the record, reflecting the ongoing challenges in linking comets to specific meteor showers.
Did You Know?
- The comet was discovered near rho Aquilae by Kaspar Gottfried Schweizer from Moscow.
- Its closest approach to Earth was on 29 April 1853 at a distance of 0.084 AU.
- It is associated with the weak γ Aquilids meteor shower, which peaks on 4 May.
More in Named Comets, Part 3 1-24
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